Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1453. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of times the income eligibility thresholds for social housing have been increased nationally in the past 20 years; the years those increases occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41438/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1454. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the years in which the social housing income bands were changed; and to outline each change. [41439/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1455. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of times the social housing income bands in County Mayo have been increased since 2010; the dates those changes took effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41440/25]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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1522. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the social housing income thresholds will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42088/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1453 to 1455, inclusive, and 1522 together.

A standard procedure for assessing applicants for social housing was introduced in every local authority on 1 April 2011, through the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. Prior to 2011, many local authorities did not have income limits. Of those that did, they varied from authority to authority.

The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribed maximum net income limits for eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. Upon introduction of the 2011 Regulations, the maximum income limits per individual (main applicant) was set in three bands at €35,000, €30,000 and €25,000. The income bands and the authority area assigned taking account of a range of indicators, including household means and accommodation costs in the specific local authority areas.

The limits introduced in 2011 also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation.

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. Mayo County Council remained in band 3. 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's examination of the report is ongoing. 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.

An illustrative table of the current net income limits can be found on my Departments website:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/social-housing-support-table-of-income-limits/

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1456. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current income bands or caps that determine eligibility for affordable housing supports under Housing for All. [41441/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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1457. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to list all housing support schemes available to households whose incomes exceed the social housing and fall below affordable housing thresholds. [41442/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1456 and 1457 together.

Under the Programme for Government published in January 2025, the Government committed to introduce a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All. My Department is currently examining that commitment, its implementation and the potential timeframe.

While work is being undertaken to progress a new plan which will build on progress to date, the measures detailed in Housing for All will continue to be progressed to accelerate and increase delivery of secure and affordable housing.

The plan has an extensive list of measures to promote supply of housing and to ensure that we make the best use of existing housing stock.

A list of affordable housing supports in place is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/, this includes information on all supports available for those wanting to purchase a home. A number of these schemes can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.

Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme

For Affordable homes purchased under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS), purchasers pay a price for their new home in accordance with their purchasing power, calculated as outlined in Affordable Housing Regulations of 2023. Homes made available under LAAPS will have a minimum sales price. There are no specific income thresholds for this scheme.

First Home Scheme

The First Home Scheme is also a shared equity scheme and makes home ownership achievable by bridging the gap for first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home within regional price ceiling which are available at www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-scheme/property-price-ceilings/. There are no specific income thresholds for this scheme.

Local Authority Home Loan

The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and certain other eligible applicants who have been refused a mortgage or have received an insufficient loan offer through a regular mortgage lender. To qualify for LAHL an applicant must have an annual gross income of not more than €70,000 for a single applicant and €85,000 for a joint applicant.

Cost Rental Homes

In the case of Cost Rental homes, in August 2023 the Government increased the income thresholds for new tenancies, with net household income limits rising to €66,000 in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere. These were introduced across the Cost Rental sector from 1 August 2023, replacing the former national net income limit of €53,000. The increased thresholds broadened the cohort of people eligible to avail of cost rental.

Other measures such as the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Scheme, and the Ready to Build Scheme are also available to help make home ownership more affordable. These measures under Housing for All are primarily aimed at supporting affordability constrained households, first-time buyers applicants and are regularly reviewed by my Department. None of these additional measures have income limits. Help to Buy , under the remit of the Department of Finance, is also available.