Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the letting of unsold affordable dwelling, if a local authority has regard to the current financial circumstances of the household in prioritising allocations, if such a policy meets the need to promote social inclusion as set out in Section 69 (g) of the Local Government Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14541/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Under Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 all housing authorities are required to make an allocation scheme. The Regulations require authorities to set out the manner in which they will allocate dwellings to both households on the waiting list and households who have been approved for transfers. Any unsold affordable housing units that a housing authority has made available for social housing are subject to that authority’s allocation scheme, just as in the case of any other form of social housing. Previous guidance issued by my Department has covered such leasing arrangements in respect of demand identified and where tenure mix is not adversely impacted in terms of developing sustainable communities. However, it should also be noted that the making and amendment of such an allocation scheme for social housing is a reserved function of the elected members of each housing authority.