Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to develop guidelines for allowing persons to seek local authority housing in areas in which they do not have strong connection especially when their is an oversupply in that area in comparison to the applicants area of residence. [30340/12]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to make family residing in an area sufficient criteria for recognising a strong connection for applicants seeking local authority housing outside of the area they currently reside in such as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [30341/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together.

Sections of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 dealing with social housing support, and the related Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011, were commenced on 1 April 2011. These set out the procedures for assessing applicants for social housing in every housing authority. Under the new arrangements a household need only apply to one housing authority for the purpose of determining whether or not they have a housing need. A household may thus apply to a housing authority in one functional area and be on the waiting list in another local authority area, without having a local connection. This applies to the joint city and county areas and to town councils within a county area. A housing authority may also decide at its discretion to accept a household who does not meet the residence or local connection criteria.

With regard to local connection to an area, under the Regulations this 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.