Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will remove the working family payment from the list of income that is assessable when considering social housing applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46918/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Household Means Policy, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. All income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, including Working Family Payment, are assessed.

I have recently, approved proposals to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly and is expected to complete by the end of 2022.

Pending completion of this work later this year, and on foot of review conducted in November 2021, I have approved changes to the social housing income eligibility bands. Five local authorities - Carlow, Clare, Galway County, Laois and Westmeath - will be moved from Band 3 to Band 2. Accordingly, the baseline income eligibility threshold for these areas will increase from €25,000 to €30,000. The change reflects the movement in rents in recent years in these areas and will ensure local authority areas with similar accommodation costs continue to be grouped together in the respective bands. The changes will come into effect from 1 October 2022.

It is now appropriate to await the report I referred to before considering any further changes to income threshold levels, and the potential impact of any changes that might arise.