Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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301. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the income threshold limits for social housing applicant households for all local authorities, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4222/17]

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. A table setting out the details of the three bands and the limits currently applicable in each housing authority area is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

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The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%; and 2.5% for each child, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10%. The maximum net income threshold for a household in Co. Tipperary is therefore €30,000.

Income is defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy which was issued by the Minister under Regulation 17 of the 2011 Regulations. The policy sets out the manner in which housing authorities are to assess the means of any household seeking social housing support. Net income is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI and the universal social charge. The policy defines the types of income to be taken into consideration when assessing eligibility for social housing support. Authorities do have discretion to disregard income that is considered to be temporary, short-term or once off in nature and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s income.

The 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.