Government bosses have given no indication as to when income eligibility limits to ease Cavan and Monaghan’s social housing woes will be lifted amid calls for a “radical amendment” in current cut-off levels.
Housing Minister James Browne said work was ongoing within his own department over existing income limits which presently excludes any individual who earns more than €30,000 after tax from qualifying for housing support.
Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith, in a parliamentary question, said the time was now long overdue for a far-reaching overhaul of present-day regulations.
“It is time they were revised upwards,” he said.
“They are extremely low in Cavan and Monaghan. We need a radical amendment to ensure that people who cannot buy their own home can qualify for social housing.”
Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith. © independent.ie
Mr Browne confirmed both counties remained in the lowest band for state social housing income thresholds, adding how council bosses enjoyed certain levels of latitude in relaxing those conditions.
“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,” he said.
“The income bands are expressed in terms of a maximum net income threshold for a single-person household, with an allowance of 5pc for each additional adult household member, subject to a maximum allowance under this category of 10% and, separately, a 2.5pc allowance for each child.”
The Wexford TD, however, stopped short of giving any specific timeline on when a final decision would be made on possibly lifting income eligibility limits, saying analysis currently being conducted by his officials would be “concluded shortly”.
“This includes examining the findings of research commissioned by my Department, and this work is ongoing,” he said, stressing how a “final determination” on any decision would then be made.
“I am also keen to put in place a more structured and frequent process for the review of these limits going forward.”