Vol. 508 No. 4
185 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to review the income limits for eligibility for local authority lists with a view to keeping the limit in line with income limits for shared ownership loans. [19191/99]
Housing authorities are not required to apply an income limit in determining eligibility for local authority housing. The application of an income limit and the manner of its operation are matters for individual housing authorities but they must be satisfied that applicants are in need of housing and unable to provide it from their own resources. In relation to the latter, authorities have been advised that they should, in assessing applications, have regard to household income. Authorities have also been advised that the specification of a rigid income limit might unreasonably exclude from housing certain persons who, because of their overall circumstances, might not be in a position to provide adequate and suitable accommodation from their own resources.
