Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2021
243. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 331 of 11 May 2021, if a review of income eligibility for social housing supports has been completed at local authority level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58748/21]
View answer261. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will increase the social housing income limits for County Tipperary as a matter of urgency to bring them in line with neighbouring counties and to reflect the general rent increases nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58902/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 261 together.
Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.
The 2011 Regulations 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 2011 Regulations do not provide local authorities with any discretion to exceed the limits that apply to their administrative areas.
Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all local authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.
The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.
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 in 2011 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.
Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.
Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland was published in September 2021 and, among other things, commits to a review of income eligibility for social housing. The review is underway and is examining the efficiency of the banding model and its application to local authorities and equivalisation as between singles and families, while also having regard to new initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and Cost Rental. I intend the review to be completed before the end of the year.
