Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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558. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider removing the working family payment from consideration on social housing income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55381/25]

Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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559. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are any plans to increase the social housing income thresholds annually, in line with increases in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55382/25]

Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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639. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if local authorities can be permitted to exercise limited discretion when the income threshold for social housing is marginally exceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55383/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 558, 559 and 639 together.

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

The 2011 Regulations 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. Local authorities have no discretion to exceed the limits applying to their administrative areas. The Household Means Policy is available online (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/social-housing-support-household-means-policy/).

The policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature. However, with the exception of the specific payments listed in the Policy as being disregarded, all income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, including the working family payment, is assessable.

The payments included in the Policy were last reviewed in 2021. As it was found that the majority of working family payment recipients are in receipt of the payment for more than one year, it was recommended that the working family payment should not be considered short term in nature and, therefore, should remain as assessable income. However, my Department keeps the Household Means Policy under regular review in order to ensure that it continues to be appropriate.

Housing for All included 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. These thresholds are net income thresholds, i.e. gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. This €5,000 increase broadened the eligibility base, increasing the number of households eligible for support and lessening the impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable households of the significant increase in the cost of accommodation and cost of living generally in recent years. An illustrative table of net income limits as set out in the Social Housing Assessment Regulations, 2011 as amended is available online Social Housing Support: Household Means Policy

My Department has been examining the existing income limits in the context of current market and household income conditions, including the suitability or otherwise of the current framework having regard to the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced. This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department and this work is ongoing.