Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I am plainly surprised by that response as someone who was a member of a local authority for almost 20 years. Income limits were in place and a person with €25,000 net had a significant income, as it is net of all the charges. However, the overall impact of the new arrangements and amended regulations is expected to result in an increase in the number of households eligible for social housing support. I acknowledge this may lead to a lengthening of waiting lists but I believe it is important to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn to promote sustainable communities. In tandem with the progressive implementation of the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, I intend to undertake a wider review of social housing policy in general. This will examine how best the needs of those on housing waiting lists can be met in the context of further development of sustainable communities, while taking account of new housing options and the level of available funding and resources. This review will, of course, include an examination of the impact of the new housing limits.

I should emphasise that people who already are tenants of local authorities will not be affected by the new limits. They will not be reassessed or anything like that and consequently, only new people joining the housing lists will be assessed. The fact that I increased the limit by €5,000 immediately is indicative of my desire to ensure there will be sustainable communities. Moreover, new incremental purchase schemes and similar measures are being introduced and hopefully this is where some of the aforementioned people will be able to participate. Although, as the Deputy is aware, they will not jump up the list because of the time period, they may have an alternative avenue on which to get on to a housing waiting list and then avail of some of the other policy initiatives that hopefully will be of benefit to them.

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