Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason applicants from an EEA and or a non-EEA country applying for social housing cannot just sign a sworn affidavit stating that they do not own property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11605/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The primary purpose of social housing support is to ensure that persons and families who do not have sufficient resources to provide accommodation themselves to meet their needs are provided with adequate housing for their needs.

Regulation 22 of Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides that an applicant household for long-term social housing support is ineligible for social housing support if a household member owns alternative accommodation that could meet their needs, either through occupation or through the proceeds of selling that accommodation. Part 11 of the prescribed social housing application form therefore asks for information on applicants' current and past property ownership either in the State or abroad.

In seeking to determine the eligibility for social housing support the housing authority may seek additional documentation from applicants. It is a matter for the local authority to determine what is required in individual cases.