Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

67. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will increase housing assistance payment rent limits in Kerry, in line with Cork and Limerick rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24415/24]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment above the prescribed maximum rent limit. Since July 2022 this discretion level was increased to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. Up to 50% discretion can be provided in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It is a matter for the local authority to determine, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted.

At end Q4 2023 the number of households being supported by HAP in Kerry County Council was 1,618 and 66% of these households were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment was almost 25% above the rent limits.

I am very conscious of the pressures in the private rental market and my Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

68. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he will increase the income eligibility limits for social housing for areas such as Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24359/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Housing for All includes a commitment to review income eligibility for social housing.

From this review, it was recommended moving five local authorities from Band 3 to Band 2, ensuring the income eligibility thresholds better reflect housing costs in those counties. Government also agreed to increase the baseline income thresholds by €5,000 for all local authorities with effect from 1 January 2023. The thresholds thus increased to €40,000, €35,000 and €30,000 for bands 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

The review further recommended the commissioning of research to develop options for a revised or new social housing income eligibility model. My Department recently received this detailed research, commissioned by The Housing Agency. The scope of this research, included examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and population conditions and the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced.

My Department will now undertake a detailed examination of the report, in order to develop a new social housing income eligibility model by Q4 2024 in line with the Housing for All Action Plan update. This detailed examination will include consultation with stakeholders and will look at, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.