Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2018
98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties facing many families on low incomes that are ineligible for social housing due to the low income eligibility limits; his plans to improve the income thresholds in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47079/18]
View answer111. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of eligibility criteria for social housing will be completed; the criteria that will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47178/18]
View answer130. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the review of the income eligibility limits for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47100/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 111 and 130 together.
The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, 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 in each local authority area, including Cavan and Monaghan, is underway. The Housing Agency is continuing to carry out the detailed statistical work, which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department.
The review will 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.
