Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1703. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason his Department stipulates that gross income be used to assess if persons can become local authority applicants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36527/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, 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, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:

The income threshold is the basic measure of whether a household is eligible for social housing support. The determination of whether an applicant meets the income criteria is based on a calculation of net income. Net income means that income tax, Universal Social Charge, Pension-Related Deductions within the meaning  of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, and PRSI deducted from the relevant assessable gross income. The income of all persons aged 18 years and over included in a social housing application shall be assessed for the purposes of determining whether an applicant household meets the income requirements.

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.  The current income eligibility requirements generally achieve this, providing for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households facing the greatest challenge in meeting their accommodation needs from their own resources.

As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of the income eligibility limits for social housing supports is scheduled to commence later this year.