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Social and Affordable Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Ceisteanna (64, 66, 76, 84)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

64. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to improve income eligibility limits for social housing in counties Cavan and Monaghan given that the existing limits are much too low at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22857/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

66. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when income eligibility limits for social housing will be increased in counties Cavan and Monaghan in which existing limits are far too low at present and unrealistic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22856/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

76. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the review of income thresholds to qualify for a place on a local authority housing list will be complete. [22672/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

84. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to increase the threshold for access to social housing in counties Laois and Offaly. [22866/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 66, 76 and 84 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, an allowance of 2.5% 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.

However, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area is underway. 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.

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