Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
1384. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when a review of income limit guidelines for social housing provision will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36383/18]
View answer1387. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of the income limits for social housing support will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36411/18]
View answer1402. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the income thresholds will be increased for housing applicants to allow greater access to public housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36641/18]
View answer1411. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36857/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1384, 1387, 1402 and 1411 together.
The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports is underway. The Housing Agency is carrying out the detailed statistical work which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department. That work is now almost complete. The review will obviously have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
