Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
171. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason workers on social housing waiting lists are removed from the waiting list by local authorities when one year of their wages goes over the income threshold, and they lose all the time they have spent on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/26]
View answer258. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the unfair housing allocation caps for families who may be ten years plus on a housing list, being deemed over the threshold due to family members becoming working age or promotion or social welfare increases and so on, in that timeframe; and is there plans to address this practice. [6197/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 258 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 baseline income thresholds increased 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. The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5% for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and separately a 2.5% allowance for each child.
Income is defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards and local authorities also have discretion to disregard income that is once-off, temporary or short-term in nature and which is outside the regular pattern of a person’s annual income.
Income is assessed based on an applicant's 12 months’ net average income immediately prior to application. This ensures the most comprehensive picture of a household’s current and previous income when the eligibility assessment is carried out. It also ensures fairness and equity in the system and that those with a continuing long-term need are prioritised. Households deemed ineligible for social housing may reapply and be reassessed for support at any stage.
A household’s qualification for social housing support may be reviewed at any time at the discretion of a local authority, including as part of the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) or where the local authority becomes aware of changes in the household's circumstances. It will also be again assessed at the point of allocating support in accordance with its Allocation Scheme. Households deemed to exceed the prescribed limits will be removed from the housing list on the basis that they no longer qualify for social housing support.
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.
I am not in a position at this point to indicate the outcome of these considerations but I envisage that the analysis will be concluded early in 2026 to facilitate a final determination on next steps, which I expect will include an increase in the income limits later this year. I am also keen to put in place a more structured and frequent process for the review of these limits going forward.
