Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
106. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if income eligibility limits for social housing will be reviewed again in counties Cavan and Monaghan; if he has a timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5128/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that a review of income eligibility limits for social housing will be carried out at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6904/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra143. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the income thresholds that apply for social housing applicants in Monaghan and if he proposes to increase those thresholds. [6881/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 111 and 143 together.
Following a review conducted by my Department in 2022, the Government agreed to my recommendation to increase the baseline social housing income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Therefore, the income eligibility threshold in Monaghan is now €30,000 for a single adult household, see the following link for an illustrative table of net income limits across all local authority areas
www.gov.ie/en/publication/04c69-social-housing-support-table-of-income-limits/
Notwithstanding these changes, my Department is awaiting detailed research examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and population conditions and the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since it was introduced. This has been commissioned by the Housing Agency and I understand this work is near completion.
When it is available, my Department will undertake a detailed examination of the report, including consultation with stakeholders. This detailed examination will look at, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.
