Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
197. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the Social Housing Support Household Means Policy 2021 is being revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17482/26]
View answerApplications 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.
Under the Policy, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. 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.
My Department recently undertook a review of the Household Means Policy in order to ensure that it continues to be appropriate. Based upon this review, it was decided that Child Maintenance payments paid and received will now be disregarded, which builds on the decision made by the Minister for Social Protection in June 2024 to no longer assess child maintenance payments as income for any social welfare payments. This change in relation to child maintenance will assist more households being able to access social housing supports. Spousal maintenance payments remain assessable.
The list of income disregards in the Policy has also been updated to reflect changes made to certain Government payments, some of which have ceased to exist or have been renamed since the Policy was last updated. The revised Household Means Policy 2026 and associated Circular issued to all local authorities earlier this week.
