Sunday was a proud, historic and, I think the Taoiseach will agree, unforgettable day when we welcomed Prime Minister Mark Carney to Westport, Mayo but, more importantly, to his ancestral family home in Aughagower village. I thank him and his wife, Diana, as well as the Taoiseach and his wife, Mary, for coming and for being so gracious with their time.
It is also really important to thank Colette O'Toole, chairperson of Aughagower Community Council, and all of the community there for the powerful moment that they took for their small village where they were on the international stage and the amount of work that they put in to make the place look spectacular. I thank Rosaleen Heraty, her staff in Westport Town Hall Theatre, and all of Mayo County Council who put on a civil reception that showcased the warmth and the pride that we have in our community; the Hughes family in the historic Westport Estate; as well as Joe Gilmore and all the staff at Knock. I think the Taoiseach will agree that this was a deep, meaningful homecoming that celebrated the enduring bond between Ireland and Canada and anybody who painted a wall, swept a street, waved a flag or came out to just see the occasion deserves a big buladh bos.
Today, I want to talk about housing. I welcome yesterday's announcement that a project on the Lodge Road in Westport was one of 82 successful ones under the new housing infrastructure investment fund. This has the potential to unlock 200 houses on local authority land and potentially 300 more. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, whom I see in the Chamber.
I want to talk today about the thresholds for social housing. In 2023, all local authorities got an increase of €5,000 under the Housing for All review. However, Mayo currently is under band 3, which is only €30,000, and this threshold is locking people out of social housing for earning too much. Meanwhile they are not earning enough to survive the private market. I understand that this is a complex challenge and that if you increase the housing threshold you might add to the already overwhelmed list, but right now what option do I have for a working family who are slightly above the threshold and may get a notice to quit and present in my office as homeless? I offer them emergency accommodation 60 km away - away from their jobs, away from the schools and away from the community. As they are above the housing threshold, there is no hope.
I was contacted by Councillor Peter Flynn, chairperson of the housing strategic policy committee, SPC, on behalf of the members there, to ask if the bands will be reviewed. They pointed out that our neighbours in Galway are in band 2, which is €35,000, €5,000 more than Mayo. When we look at prices in Mayo last year, in Westport the average price was €327,000 where as in Kiltimagh in Mayo it was €155,000. This shows the significant variation across the county.
I raised this in a parliamentary question in December. I was informed that the Department was examining the existing income limits and work was ongoing, but I would really appreciate the Taoiseach's thoughts on this today.
