Vol. 573 No. 3
174 Mr. Morgan asked the Taoiseach the maximum percentage of income that a household should be spending on housing costs; the current average percentage of income which households here are spending on housing; the way in which this compares with other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25051/03]
The household budget survey, HBS, which is carried out every five years by the Central Statistics Office, provides information on the average income and expenditure of all private households in the State. According to the most recent HBS in 1999-2000, households spent, on average, €55.41 per week on housing costs. This expenditure accounted for 10% of disposable income. The following table provides information on expenditure by private households in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Comparable information for the other EU member states is not available at this time.
|
Commodity Group |
€ |
As a % of Disposable income |
€ |
As a % of Disposable income |
|
IRL |
UK |
|||
|
Food |
117.67 |
21.3 |
84.83 |
14.9 |
|
Drink and Tobacco |
44.10 |
8.0 |
29.73 |
5.2 |
|
Clothing and Footwear |
35.11 |
6.4 |
30.45 |
5.3 |
|
Fuel and Light |
21.68 |
3.9 |
17.26 |
3.0 |
|
Housing |
55.41 |
10.0 |
80.04 |
14.0 |
|
Household goods |
41.27 |
7.6 |
42.20 |
7.4 |
|
Miscellaneous Goods |
19.08 |
3.5 |
1.74 |
0.3 |
|
Transport |
94.92 |
17.2 |
85.84 |
15.1 |
|
Services and other Expenses |
148.48 |
26.9 |
132.68 |
23.3 |
|
Total Expenditure |
577.72 |
504.77 |
