Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides for a new process of housing needs assessment for applicants for social housing support. Until now there have been different practices in housing authorities regarding the way in which applicants for social housing support had their income means-tested. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, which came into force on 1 April 2011, standardise both the income limits and the definition of income.

The Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, made on 29 March 2011, amend the original regulations and provide for a general increase of €5,000 in the income bands. I am sure the Deputy will be delighted to hear the new increased limit in the Donegal authorities' band is €25,000 net income for a single-person household, with a maximum limit of €30,000 net income for a household with three adults and four children or more. Net income is defined in the household means policy approved under the regulations as gross income of all kinds, including most forms of social welfare benefits or assistance, less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. Child benefit also is disregarded, as is most temporary income.

Deputy O'Dea was right. How does that questions lottery operate?

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