Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund applications were received for Laois and Offaly since its inception; how many were approved; how many were not approved; the status of all approved applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40691/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. The types of infrastructure being provided include roads, bridges, diversion of power-lines, drainage works as well as public amenities (parks).

In July 2016, the Department invited relevant infrastructure project proposals from local authorities, and received over 70 applications.

A LIHAF Advisory Group was established to undertake an evaluation and assessment of LIHAF applications. This Advisory Group was drawn from a number of areas within the Department including planning, quantity surveying and housing delivery experts. A LIHAF Management Committee was established to make recommendations to the Minister, on projects that met the criteria for LIHAF funding and which could be given approval in principle, taking account of the detailed evaluation and assessments undertaken by the LIHAF Advisory Group.

All proposals were assessed in line with the criteria set out in the Call for Proposals and ultimately 30 projects were approved for LIHAF grant funding in 2017. Laois County Council did not submit any applications and Offaly County Council submitted a single application for an access road at Chancery Lane, Tullamore. The application made by Offaly County Council was not successful.

It should be noted that the LIHAF scheme closed in 2017.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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185. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware that local councils are continuing to include child maintenance as part of the income and rent calculation for social housing (details supplied). [40720/24]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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193. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to review the practice of including child maintenance payments in housing applications (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40784/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 193 together.

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 2011, as amended.

The 2011 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.

Under the Policy, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. However, with the exception of the specific payments listed in the Policy as being disregarded, all income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, and maintenance payments received is assessable.

My Department is currently in the process of reviewing assessable and non assessable income under the Household Means Policy in order to ensure it continues to be appropriate.

In relation to rent calculations, local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.

Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities. Accordingly, decisions regarding the sources of income included and disregarded for rent assessment purposes, including child maintenance, are matters for individual local authorities. I have no role in this regard.