Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2017
65. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which his Department defines affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33433/17]
View answerThe Government remains committed to meeting the overarching policy objective, outlined in Rebuilding Ireland, of ensuring that all of our people have access to quality and affordable housing, either through their own endeavours or with the support of the State.
In terms of social housing, the need is well understood and the latest estimate from the Social Housing Needs Assessment puts the total net household need at 91,600, as at 21 September 2016. ‘Net Household Need’ for the purposes of this assessment is defined as the total number of households qualifying for social housing support whose social housing need is not being met. The maximum net income eligibility thresholds range from €25,000 for a single person to €42,000 for a 3 adult, 4 child household. The figures vary, within that overall range, depending on the local authority area concerned.
Households currently living in local authority rented accommodation, voluntary/ co-operative accommodation or accommodation provided under current expenditure programmes (such as the Housing Assistance Payments Scheme) are not included in the total number. It is important to note that households that are in receipt of Rent Supplement are included in the figure, as this is not classified as a housing support.
Under Rebuilding Ireland, €5.35 billion has been committed with the target of 47,000 units for delivery over the period to 2021. In addition, over 80,000 households are targeted to be accommodated in the private housing market under the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme. This will ensure that those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their housing needs are supported.
The cost of housing, and its affordability for a particular household, is a key issue and one that has become increasingly significant. There has been a considerable amount of research undertaken in Ireland, the UK and further afield on this topic and, while there is no universally ideal price/rent to income ratio or minimum residual income requirement, there is broad agreement that ideally households should be spending no more than a third of their income on housing costs over the longer term.
I have initiated a targeted review of Rebuilding Ireland , with an emphasis on strengthening the measures already in place and identifying new initiatives that add value and raise ambition. As part of this review process, which I intend to conclude by September, I have asked my Department to focus in particular on the broad issue of housing affordability.
