Question to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government:
To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the letting of unsold affordable dwelling, if a local authority have 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. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st March, 2013.
Ref. No. 14541/13
REPLY
Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (Ms. J. O’Sullivan):
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 h ave 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 D epartment 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 t he making and amendment of such an allocation scheme for social housing is a reserved function of the elected members of each housing authority.