Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the income thresholds for social housing, it is stated on page 22 of the programme for Government, which was drafted nearly three years ago, that the Government will "prioritise those on the lowest incomes and avoid creating social welfare traps". The reality in the case of Laois and Offaly is that hundreds of families are caught in a ridiculous limbo situation, with outdated income thresholds. They cannot get on the social housing waiting list but their incomes are way too low to get a mortgage or a loan under the new Rebuilding Ireland loan scheme.

A couple's income must be below €504 per week while a family of four must have an income below €528 per week. We have the ridiculous situation in which a local authority road sweeper in Laois or Offaly cannot get on the waiting list. People who are working part-time cannot get on it.

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