Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he intends to announce changes to the household income eligibility for local authority housing before 15 July 2022 given the urgent need to do so; when these eligibility thresholds were last set; the reason for the delay in changing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35159/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations.

The regulations 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.

Introduced in 2011, the income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. A blanket increase of €5,000 was also introduced prior to the new system coming into operation.

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.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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157. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the grounds on which a local authority may refuse families or individuals seeking emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35168/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. 

Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard.  This allows local authorities to provide an immediate response to ensure households are provided with the accommodation and supports required while the ultimate aim is to work with households to exit homelessness in the shortest timeframe possible. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.

Any household assessed as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment, allowing local authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may arise. Local authorities also assess applications for social housing supports, ensuring housing supports are available to households unable to meet their accommodation needs from their own resources.