Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new income limits for social housing will become operational, given there is an urgent need to increase such thresholds in areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59797/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has recently agreed to increase social housing income eligibility thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023.

The income eligibility bands, the respective thresholds, and the local authorities assigned to each band, were introduced in 2011. The thresholds were developed with reference to 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, at that time.

Notwithstanding an increase in the thresholds for a small number of local authorities in October 2022, the thresholds have remained unchanged since 2011. In the meantime, accommodation costs have increased significantly nationwide.

It is for this reason the thresholds will be increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively in the new year.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are any exceptional circumstances in which a local authority can sell a social house at market value to a family member of a deceased long-term social housing tenant who does not meet the current social housing or tenant purchase criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59829/22]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if local authorities can derogate from Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage tenant purchase guidelines in unique exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59837/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.

The Tenant Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.

All sales under the scheme must meet the criteria set down in Part 3 of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and associated Regulations. While the sale of any dwelling under the scheme is entirely a matter for the relevant local authority, local authorities have no scope to derogate from the legislative requirements or associated guidelines.