Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is a condition of eligibility for social housing that the rent a family is paying must be 30% or more of the household income; if local authorities are obliged to apply this in all circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32046/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if family income supplement is included in the calculation of the income of a household for the purposes of determining eligibility for social housing; if so, if he will consider changing this in order to remove a disincentive to staying in employment for families who are in need of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32079/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together.

Under the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, it is a condition of eligibility for social housing support that the income of applicant households does not exceed prescribed maximum income thresholds. The 2011 Regulations set the 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 determination of the bands and the authority area assigned to each band was based on a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation and takes account of the variation in the cost of private rented accommodation across the country.

The principle used to determine what was reasonably affordable for any household was the relationship of household income to the cost of providing suitable accommodation in the private sector, where the percentage of net income required in order to pay for accommodation costs did not exceed 30%.

The limits set in 2011 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.

Under the Household Means Policy, which applies in all housing authorities, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. Most payments received from the Department of Social Protection are assessable as income, including Family Income Supplement. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and housing authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once off.

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 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.