Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for the consistent work he has done on this, specifically on the income eligibility criteria and the workings he has articulated in his argument. The overarching principle of social housing support is to provide adequate housing support to those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. Applications for such supports are assessed by local authorities in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated social housing assessment regulations.

The regulations introduced a standard system for assessing applicants for social housing in 2011, as the Deputy referred to, establishing a fair and more consistent and transparent approach to determine eligibility for support. To this end, they prescribed maximum net income limits for each local authority in three different bands according to the area concerned. The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with a 5% allowance for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and, separately, an additional allowance of 2.5% for each child. Given the cost to the State of providing social housing, it is considered prudent and fair to direct resources to those most in need of social housing support. The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.

Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland, was published in September 2021 and committed to reviewing income eligibility criteria for social housing. The review was considered necessary because, as the Deputy mentioned, the cut-off points for each income eligibility threshold band were determined when average rent prices across the country were decreasing. The continuing suitability of the banding structure was questionable given the significant rental price growth throughout the country since and given that private rents in all local authority areas had risen considerably since thresholds were originally set in 2011. The review was undertaken in 2021 and examined, among other things, the efficiency of the current banding model; the income limits applicable to local authorities; and the new initiatives being brought forward in affordability and cost rental housing. It was completed towards the end of last year, and included recommendations for short and longer term reform of the income eligibility arrangements. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, is considering the review’s findings and recommendations and he expects to decide on the proposed changes to the recommendations shortly.

The review of income eligibility is part of a broad suite of social housing reforms and complements measures being delivered through the Affordable Housing Act 2021 to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of homes. The Act was commenced in August 2021 and established a fair basis for four new affordable housing measures, including delivering affordable homes on local authority lands; introducing cost rental, a new form of tenure; introducing first homes shared equity scheme; and expanding the Part V planning requirements to increase the 10% contribution requirement to 20% and applying it to cost rental as well as to social and affordable housing. The Act was supported through unprecedented funding, committed through Housing for All, of €4 billion annually. Specifically, 54,000 affordable housing homes, comprising 18,000 cost rental homes and 36,000 affordable homes, will be delivered between now and 2030. Targeted delivery for 2022 is 1,550 new cost rental homes and 2,000 affordable purchase homes.

I hear Deputy O’Donnell’s proposal clearly. I know the review is complete and I expect that the Minister will act on it shortly. I thank the Deputy for the substantial amount of work he has brought forward on this pressing issue.

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