Housing applicants living in the South Dublin County Council area are being encouraged to return their Housing Need Assessment form before they lose their place on the housing list.

Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, made the call as he believes there is a new dimension and added difficulty for some of the people on the housing waiting lists who are not computer literate as they now have to fill out the council form online.

South Dublin County Council intends to write to each housing applicant on its Social Housing List prior to 21 September 2016 using the current address they have on file for each applicant. The responsibility is on the applicant to inform the council if they have changed address.

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Deputy Crowe said: "Every year huge numbers of people lose their place on the housing list by not notifying the Council of their change of address. If someone has subsequently moved address the onus is on the applicant to inform them of any changes.

"The very real danger is they may not get the letter about this yearly assessment and subsequently lose their place in the queue or get removed altogether from the housing application list. This, in my experience, happens to applicants every single year.

"I would advise anyone who has moved address to notify the Council as they could have their application for social housing terminated.

"This could also have implications for applicants receiving a rental support, as it may be cut. An applicant has to be on a local authority housing list to continue to receive a rental support.

"This year, each applicant will be asked to complete an online form and provide documentary evidence of any changes in their circumstances and return this information to South Dublin County Council.

"I would urge people to simply do just that."

(CD/MH)