Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a fair question, and one that I have asked. Deputy Pringle will respond to my reply.

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility conditions set down under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated social housing assessment regulations 2011, as amended. The regulations prescribe net income limits for each local authority in three different bands, as Deputy Pringle will know. The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single person household of between €25,000 and €30,000, depending on the area, with additional allowances for further adults and children.

Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those who need social housing support the most. We would all agree with that. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs.

It is important to state that as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for socialising support in each local authority is under way. The review will have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordable housing. That will be important because it will deal with the next cohort above the social housing limit and how we can deliver cost rental and affordable housing at scale, which I hope the Deputy will support.

We brought forward the terms of the affordable cost rental housing scheme, and the review will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been completed. I want to bring it to a conclusion, to be very honest. I expect it to be concluded this year. We will then examine whether there should be a band system into the future and what the levels need to be.

The system needs to fit in with the new cost rental scheme, which is the next threshold for people, and the affordable rental model which deals with people who are just above the social housing income limits. The review is well under way at each local authority level.

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