Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

474. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions he will take to ensure that single parent families that do not qualify for any existing housing scheme or payment can be supported in finding suitable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6404/25]

James Browne (Wexford, 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, completed in November 2021, 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 received this detailed research, commissioned by the Housing Agency. The scope of the 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 is now undertaking a detailed examination of the report, in order to develop a new social housing income eligibility model 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.

In terms of affordable housing options, a number of affordable housing supports are in place under Housing for All. Information on these schemes is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/, which also contains further links to each specific scheme. Please note, a number of these schemes can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.