Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the income eligibility rule for social housing support, which assesses income over an average of the past 12 months, as discretion should be allowed to account for significant changes to income, such as the loss of a job or a medical issue. [12533/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended, 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 (HMP). It was revised in March 2021 and comprehensive guidance was provided to local authorities at the time.

Social housing is a long-term support intended to support households that have continuing, long-term difficulty meeting their own accommodation needs. This is reflected in the underpinning legislation and the HMP which provides for applicants’ eligibility to be assessed on their net average income over the previous 12 months from the date of their application. It provides a truer picture of long-term need and is an objectively fairer approach than assessing such need against more recent changes in circumstances, including loss of employment or significant changes in income. This also ensures fairness and equity in the system and that those with a continuing long-term need are prioritised. I currently have no plans to amend the requirement to assess household social housing income eligibility on the previous 12 months net average income.

Rent Supplement is a short-term income support for people in the private rented sector. If there has been a recent change in a households circumstance and the household requires short term support with their rent, it is open to them to make application for rent supplement. It remains open to that household to apply for social housing support at any stage, subject to meeting the eligibility and need criteria at the point at which they apply.