Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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1010. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to increase the threshold income for social housing applicants given people on low incomes in many cases are excluded from applying for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58051/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1011. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider raising the threshold for social housing in Offaly or moving Offaly into band two; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58069/25]

Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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1034. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the income thresholds for social housing will be reviewed, in light of increases in social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58537/25]

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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1047. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to consider regional cost-of-living adjustments in assessing eligibility for HAP and social housing supports for single and married earners in high-rent areas, who fall just above national thresholds but face housing insecurity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58703/25]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1053. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to increase the social housing eligibility thresholds nationally, particularly in light of recent increases in the working family payment and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures; if consideration is being given to introducing an annual review mechanism to ensure thresholds keep pace with inflation and wage adjustments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58806/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1010, 1011, 1034, 1047 and 1053 together.

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.

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.

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. While the majority of income from social insurance and social assistance payments, allowances and benefits, and occupational and social welfare pensions is assessable, certain payments from Department of Social Protection are disregarded. The policy also allows for discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.

More detail on what income is assessable and the full list of disregards is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/

My Department is currently in the process of reviewing assessable and non assessable income under the Policy in order to ensure it continues to be appropriate.