Social housing rules set for residency overhaul

THE Government has promised it will prevent illegal immigrants getting access to social housing by making habitual residency in Ireland a requirement.

- BY JOHN KIERANS

A new law is to be published in the autumn and will be presented to the Dail in the coming months.

It means in the future any new applicant for social housing or the HAP - the housing assistance payment - must be a habitual resident here.

This is currently not part of the criteria as part of the housing assessment process and it has caused huge anger among voters.

The move is being opposed by the Human Rights and Equality Commission which claims the change in law will result in more vulnerable people being made homeless.