Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the income guidelines used in assessing eligibility for housing applicants under the social housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32834/12]

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the various income limits that are set for the social housing qualification process; if these vary from one local authority to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32655/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 180 together.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009, provides for a new process of housing needs assessment for applicants for social housing support. Until these Regulations were made there had been different practices in housing authorities regarding the way in which applicants for social housing support had their income means-tested. The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, which came into force on 1 April, 2011, standardised both the income limits and the definition of income. The Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations, made on 29 March 2011, amended the original regulations and provided for a general increase of €5,000 in the income bands. These Regulations specify the income limits for each housing authority, and are available on my Department's website – www.environ.ie or on the Housing Agency's website at www.housing.ie.