Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to introduce uniformity across local authorities in terms of the income limits employed to allow persons onto the housing lists. [30470/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2009 provides for a new housing needs assessment process, replacing section 9 of the Housing Act 1988 which currently governs the assessment of need. Regulations are now in preparation in my Department which will give detailed effect to the new needs assessment process. It is envisaged that these Regulations will be made, and section 20 of the Act will be commenced, in September 2010.

It is intended that, under these Regulations, a more standardised and consistent approach to income assessment by housing authorities will be adopted. Section 20 in particular provides that the Minister may, by regulation, set an income threshold for access to social housing support. The income threshold will define the boundary between what a household can be expected to provide for from its own resources through renting/purchasing in the private market and what cannot reasonably be afforded. Thresholds set in relation to income eligibility will also take account of varying levels of affordability between authorities.