Written answers

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Social and Affordable Housing

9:00 pm

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for the Environment; Community and Local Government the position regarding the new social housing regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17957/11]

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Sections of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 dealing with social housing support, and related Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011, were commenced on 1 April 2011. A new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing was introduced in every housing authority.

One of the important provisions of the new regulations is that a household need only apply to one housing authority for the purpose of determining whether or not they have a housing need. The idea behind the new arrangements is to streamline the process of applying for social housing support, both for the applicant and the local authority, while at the same time allowing a reasonable level of choice to households as to the areas in which they would like to receive social housing support.

A household may apply to the housing authority for the functional area

· where it normally resides – this would include a household residing in rented accommodation, or

· where it has a local connection.

In accordance with the Regulations a local connection can be established if the applicant or a member of the household;

· has lived in the area for a continuous 5 year period previously;

· is employed in the area or within 15 km of the area;

· is in full-time education, or attending specialist medical care in the area;

· has a relative living in the area for 2 years or longer.

"Relative" of a member of the household is defined in the Regulations as a parent, adult child or sibling and may include another relative, such as a stepparent, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle, who has close links with the household member in the form of commitment or dependence.

A household may then specify up to three areas of choice in any housing authority in the county. At least one of these choices must be in the functional area of the housing authority of application. Therefore, a household living in, or having a local connection with, a town council area, may make a single application to that town council for housing support in the town, but on that application may also express its choice to live in areas within the wider administrative county council area.

Alternatively, a household living in, or having a local connection with, the county area may choose to apply to the county council, but also express areas of choice within the town council areas in the county. Eligible households will appear on the waiting lists of each of the authorities where they have expressed areas of choice. A housing authority may also decide at its discretion to accept a household who does not meet these residence or local connection criteria. In this case, the household may only express areas of choice within the functional area of that particular housing authority.

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