Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
372. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views regarding the recent rent increase in council houses in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25704/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is an executive function and is subject to broad principles set out by the Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved function of administering rent schemes. Decisions regarding the increase or decrease in the rent charged to local authority tenants are matters for the individual authority, in this case Limerick City and County Council.
The Programme for Government commits to bringing forward a package of social housing reforms, which includes standardising the differential rents regime across the country to ensure fairness. Work on the review of the current rent schemes has been ongoing and I have asked my Department to prepare recommendations regarding the potential for a standardised local authority rents system, which I will consider in due course as part of a package of social housing reforms.
