Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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591. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will increase the income limits for persons to be eligible to be included as applicants for social housing as the current limits make it exceptionally difficult for low-paid workers to be included on social housing lists and these positions are only substantially available to persons on payments from the Department of Social Protection; his views on whether this is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25102/16]

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 income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental 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, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.

I am satisfied that the current income limits generally provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. However, these 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.