Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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462. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to reports that Cork City Council is requiring applicants for social housing to provide proof of access arrangements through court documents and that the courts do not have capacity to provide these documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63168/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the practice of requesting court documentation from social housing applicants regarding the proof of access arrangements was discontinued by Cork City Council in late 2022 following consultation with the Court Service.

The general practice is for a copy of a separation or divorce agreement for both applicants to accompany a social housing application. If there is no such agreement, a letter from the applicant's solicitor or a legal affidavit signed by a practising solicitor will suffice. The letter should confirm there is no formal separation agreement and no court proceedings pending under family law legislation, as well as the position in relation to maintenance payments, overnight access/ custody arrangements for children and property ownership.