Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to increase eligibility income limits for social housing, particularly in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8826/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have been raising with the Minister for some time the need to raise the income eligibility limits for social housing. In too many instances we hear from constituents who were on the housing list but who were taken off it when they went back to work. The eligibility band for the Cavan-Monaghan area is the lowest in the country and it needs to be improved. We are penalising people who are working.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing 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 rent cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.

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. I am satisfied that the current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this. They provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. These income limits will continue to be kept under review by my Department as part of the broader social housing reform agenda set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Could the Minister give us an assurance that they will be reviewed without further delay? I recently brought a young couple to my local authority. The young man is an apprentice while his partner is, unfortunately, out of work and receiving a jobseeker's payment. The couple have a child. They are not eligible for a council house. We are talking about being prudent and fair. Is it prudent and fair that the council does not have discretion when it comes to this couple who are slightly above the income limit? I understand that. This is in an area like Cavan-Monaghan. Anybody who is fortunate enough to return to the labour force is being penalised. We need a mix of people in different social housing schemes. The Minister spoke about sustainable communities. We all want to see that but the income limits that are being applied make it impossible for many people on low incomes to qualify for local authority housing. We need to change that.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy gives the example of an apprentice whose partner is on social welfare. If they are not qualifying, I would like to see the detail of that. I am not saying I do not believe the Deputy. Of course, I believe him but that does not seem to be the target market we are looking to try to support here. People on low incomes who are making the effort to get out and work need to be supported by the State in terms of their housing needs just like people on social welfare who are either unable to work or cannot find employment. We will review income thresholds but we cannot review them on the basis of individual counties. There must be a standardised process. Otherwise it becomes a political exercise, which is dangerous.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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But there are zones. Cavan-Monaghan is a different-----

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are zones and bands in different areas.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The band in Cavan-Monaghan is extremely low. That is what I am concerned about. I know there must be a comparable increase as well but it needs to be reviewed based on my experience in my constituency.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I will take a look at it and come back to the Deputy.