Written answers
Tuesday, 9 October 2018
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Social and Affordable Housing Data
Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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513. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of households that were dropped from the housing list due to exceeding the income limits to qualify for social housing in the period pertaining to the statistics (details supplied); his plans to raise the qualifying income limit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40587/18]
Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Summary of Social Housing Assessment, SSHA, process requires all housing authorities to review those households who are on their housing list but who are not currently in receipt of housing support. This is to ensure that the details of the applicant households are up to date and accurate and that they remain eligible for, and in need of, social housing support in accordance with the criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated social housing assessment regulations. As part of this assessment, all local authorities wrote to relevant households, including those in transitional and shared or emergency accommodation, if relevant, informing them of the assessment process and seeking updated information where necessary.
The netincome eligibility limits for access to social housing support are set out in the following table:
| Single Person household | 2 adults no children | Oneadult one child | Oneadult two children | Two adults 1 child | Two adults 2 children | Two adults 3 children | Two adults plus 4 or more children | Three adults plus 4 or more children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 €35,000 | €35,000 | €36,750 | €35,875 | €36,750 | €37,625 | €38,500 | €39,375 | €40,250 | €42,000 |
| Band 2 €30,000 | €30,000 | €31,500 | €30,750 | €31,500 | €32,250 | €33,000 | €33,750 | €34,500 | €36,000 |
| Band 3 €25,000 | €25,000 | €26,250 | €25,625 | €26,250 | €26,875 | €27,500 | €28,125 | €28,750 | €30,000 |
On review, households found to exceed the limits on income eligibility grounds were removed from the list. Data supplied separately by the Housing Agency show that as part of the 2018 SSHA process 971 households were removed on income eligibility grounds. The oversight and management of these lists is a matter for the relevant housing authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports is underway. The Housing Agency is carrying out the detailed statistical work which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department. The review will obviously have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
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