Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for confirmation as to when the social housing thresholds in County Laois are to rise, as there is still quite a number of people on housing lists who are over the threshold by a small amount, and many who are getting on in age worrying that if they do not qualify for social housing, they will become homeless due to extortionate rents they cannot afford once they go on to their State pension. [24651/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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 also 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.

My Department is undertaking a detailed examination of the report, in order to develop options for a new social housing income eligibility model in line with the Housing for All Action Plan update. When this detailed examination has further advanced, consultation with stakeholders will be undertaken. An important consideration of the work underway is focused, inter alia, how the social housing income limits system interacts with other housing supports and ensure that they continue to target households correctly.

Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. This is demonstrated by the record level of investment which is being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of €6.8 billion. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need.