Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any restriction on a person being an applicant for social housing in a county in which they are not currently residing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33161/11]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is any restriction on a person being an applicant for social housing in more than one county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33162/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.

A new system of social housing assessments by housing authorities came into force on 1 April 2011 and is operated in accordance with regulations made under section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. One objective of 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.

Under the regulations, a household may apply to one housing authority only for social housing support. That housing authority is usually the housing authority for the functional area in which the household normally resides or with which the household has a local connection. A household has a local connection with the functional area of a housing authority if a household member-

· lived in the area at any time for a continuous 5-year period;

· 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; or

· has a relative living in the area for at least 2 years.

The regulations define the relative of a household member as a parent, adult child or sibling and including another relative, such as a step-parent, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle, who has close links with the household member in the form of commitment or dependence.

An applicant household may specify up to three areas of choice for the receipt of social housing support within the county (including the city, where relevant) of the housing authority of application. At least one of these areas of choice must be in the functional area of the housing authority of application. For example, a household living in, or having a local connection with, a town council area may apply for housing support to that town council and may also express preferences to live in 2 other areas outside the town concerned but within the county boundaries. Similarly, a household living in, or having a local connection with, a county area may apply to the county council concerned, but may also specify 2 other areas of choice for the receipt of social housing support within city or town council areas in the county. Thus, a household qualified for social housing support from 3 different housing authorities in a county will be entered on the waiting lists of each of those authorities.

The regulations also empower a housing authority, at its discretion, to carry out a social housing assessment for a household that does not meet the residence or local connection criteria in respect of its functional are. In this case, the household may specify areas of choice within the functional area of that housing authority only.