Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 63 together.

The social housing assessment regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard household means policy.

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 at that time 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 providing a degree of future-proofing. I am conscious that seven years have passed since the review.

As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports has commenced. I acknowledge that Deputy Brendan Smith and others have raised this matter repeatedly here. It is an issue we highlighted in Rebuilding Ireland. We recognise the importance of that too. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and I have made it clear that this review is happening. The Housing Agency should have the report and its recommendations with us in the summer, possibly late summer. When we have that we will be able to make the final decisions. I accept it is dragging on. The Housing Agency is involved in many other policy initiatives with our Department. This is taking longer than we all hoped it would. It is an area being highlighted and on which we also want work to be done. We will have an update for the Deputy and the results will be published during the summer.

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