Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Oct 2002

Vol. 555 No. 4

Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

183 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason local authority housing applicants whose income is somewhat above the qualification guidelines for shared ownership loans, but below the requirement to purchase a home through a bank or building society, are currently being deleted from the local authority housing lists on income grounds, when it is quite clear that such persons have no hope of housing themselves otherwise and that they are eminently eligible for rehousing under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2002; if he has advice to offer such persons, who in many cases are living in rented accommodation costing more than double normal mortgage repayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18798/02]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

Local authorities are responsible under the Housing Act, 1988, for assessing housing needs in accordance with their scheme of letting priorities. In making this assessment, housing need local authorities have regard, inter alia, to the income and family circumstances of the applicant. Persons who are, in the opinion of the local authority, unable to provide housing from their own resources are eligible for local authority housing.

The income eligibility criteria and loan limits which apply to the shared ownership and affordable housing schemes have been significantly improved in recent years. While there is no proposal to revise these limits at present, my Department will keep the terms of the schemes under review.