Simon Harris
Ceist:
167
Deputy Simon Harris
asked the
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
the housing supports available to a couple who do not meet the criteria for rent supplement yet cannot afford to rent private accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25710/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan): Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 dealing with social housing support, and the related Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011, was commenced on 1 April 2011. A new standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing was introduced in every housing authority.
The Regulations contain, among other eligibility criteria, maximum income limits, which were subsequently amended upwards by the Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations 2011. The income bands contained therein refer to the net income of households, that is net of income tax, PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. The maximum limits are €35,000, €30,000 and €25,000 for a single-person household, depending on the local authority area concerned, with additional allowances based on each additional adult or child in the household.
These provisions, taken together, provide a reasonable basis for ensuring that households on low incomes have access to social housing support.
