Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There are probably cases like that all over the country. Prior to 2011, there were no income limits and there was inconsistency across local authorities. Some disregarded while some included all incomes. That is why the household means policy was introduced. It sets out the manner by which local authorities should assess the means of an applicant for social housing support for the purpose of determining the household's ability to provide accommodation from its own resources. The policy also provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities have discretion to disregard income that is temporary, short term or once-off in nature. The vast majority of recipients of the working family payment were receiving it for more than one year, so it was considered not to be short term in nature. The Minister is in the process of reviewing the income eligibility model. It can be examined. It is unfortunate in the case of the applicant the Deputy mentioned. The local authority discretion is there. I hope that the family she mentioned is in a position to find suitable accommodation.

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