Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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164. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he has examined the anomaly whereby qualification income limits for local authority housing are set in such a way as to deprive many families of a possible local authority home notwithstanding the fact that their income does not give them the choice to fund a mortgage; if immediate steps can be taken to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17347/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As indicated in my reply to Question No. 118 of 19 January 2017, 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 eligibility requirements generally achieve this - they provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in providing accommodation from their own resources.

I am aware of difficulties faced by households in certain circumstances arising from the income eligibility limits applicable in their areas. These issues will be considered further in the context of  a review of these limits, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which is scheduled to commence later this year.

With regard to the difficulties experienced by households in securing a mortgage where they are deemed ineligible on income grounds for social housing support, the measures currently in place to assist first time buyers who are unable to get a loan from a building society or bank might be noted. As indicated in the reply of 19 January 2017, such households may be eligible for a mortgage from their local authority, in cases where the gross income (before tax) is €50,000 or less for a single income household or €75,000 or less in the case of a double income household. The loan can be up to 97% of the price of the house subject to a maximum loan of €200,000. Also, first time buyers can apply for a Home Choice Loan to purchase a new or second hand property or build their own home. Home Choice Loan provides a loan of up to 92% of the market value of a property purchased, subject to a maximum loan amount of €285,000. Further information is available at www.homechoiceloan.ie.