Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will amend the local authority differential rent scheme to exclude carer's allowance and carer's benefit from rent assessment under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24262/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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 Carer’s Allowance and Carer's Benefit, are matters solely for individual local authorities. I have no role in this regard.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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75. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to increase the first home scheme targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24648/25]