Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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506. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new terms and conditions for Rebuilding Ireland mortgages will be issued to Donegal County Council so applications that are held up at the moment can be processed by the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29595/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.

Local authorities were advised of the terms and conditions of the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme in December 2021. Further information on the scheme is available on the dedicated website .

The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Local Authority Home Loan scheme social welfare payments are not generally considered as part of repayment capacity. However, certain long-term State benefit payments may be considered as repayment income only where the main income source is of an earned nature (i.e., more than 50% of the income that forms the full Home Loan application is from a source other than State benefits payments).

Long-term State benefit payments considered will be:

State Pension (Contributory and Non-contributory);

Widow’s/Widower’s Pension;

Blind Pension;

Invalidity Pension; and

Disability Allowance.

The long-term nature of the payment must be confirmed by the Department of Social Protection or other relevant Government Department.

Carer's Allowance is not taken into account as income for repayment capacity for local authority lending. As noted above, social welfare payments may only be considered where the main source of income is earned, therefore where Carer's Allowance is the main source of income it cannot be counted.

The final decision regarding Local Authority Home Loan applications are made by the relevant Local Authority Credit Committee on a case by case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority. My Department is not involved in individual loan decisions.

Further details can be found on .

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are plans to re-examine the means testing criteria for social housing. [29628/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy was revised in March 2021. 

Net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.

The determination of whether an applicant household meets the income criteria is based on a calculation of their preceding 12 months’ net average income prior to the date of receipt of application. This ensures that the most comprehensive picture of a household’s current and previous income is available at the point of carrying out the assessment.

Housing for All – A New Housing Plan for Ireland was published in September 2021 and, as part of a broad suite of social housing reforms, committed to reviewing income eligibility for social housing.

The review, which examined, inter alia, the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, has been completed. I am currently considering its findings and expect to decide on proposed changes and recommendations shortly.