Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will be changing the income threshold for getting on the Donegal County Council social housing list (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48231/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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302. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to publish the review that his Department has on the social housing income limits; the bodies or individuals that his Department consulted with in the course of carrying-out the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48486/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 302 together.

The review on social housing income thresholds is now available at the link below on my Departments website:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/c49a0-review-of-income-eligibility-for-social-housing-support/

The background to the report is the commitment in Housing for All,  which was published in September 2021 to review income eligibility for social housing. The review was conducted by the Housing Agency on behalf of my Department.

The review, which examined inter alia the efficiency of the current banding model and income limits applicable to local authorities, has been completed and I have recently approved implementation of its recommendations. This included the commissioning of work to scope and develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. This work will commence shortly under the aegis of the Housing Agency who have been tasked with commissioning it. It is expected that the work will be complete by the end of 2022.

Pending completion of this work, I have also 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 came into effect from 1 October 2022. 

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

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has conducted any specific analysis of the impact of the tax and social welfare changes on households currently on social housing waiting lists who may as a result of their changed income circumstances, lose their entitlement to social housing supports. [48291/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The overarching principle of social housing support is reflected in the underpinning legislation and the Household Means Policy, the latter being amended last year. The amended policy aims to better reflect the long-term nature of social housing supports and, in doing so, ensure fairness and equity in the system and that those with a continuing long-term need are prioritised.

A social housing eligibility assessment includes a review of the applicant's net average income for the 12 months prior to application.  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. 

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.