Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2730. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to raise the threshold for social housing supports in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34335/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2733. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he plans raising the eligibility thresholds for going on the local authority lists as per sections 20 and 21 of the Housing Act 2009 in view of the low income thresholds in place at present that mean that many working persons on low incomes are neither eligible to go on the housing lists nor have the resources to buy their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2730 and 2733 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 has commenced. The Housing Agency is carrying out the detailed statistical work which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department.
I expect the results of the review to be available for publication over the coming months.
