Brendan Smith Calls to Raise Social Housing Income Limits
Brendan Smith renewed his appeal to ministers for an urgent increase to social housing income eligibility limits in County Cavan and County Monaghan, arguing the current €30,000 baseline is inadequate. He warned that the rule excludes hardworking people who earn too much for social housing yet too little to qualify for a mortgage.
Immediate appeal
Brendan Smith set out his case to the Minister, saying the present social housing income baseline of €30,000 in Cavan and Monaghan does not reflect current building and buying costs. He urged that household income limits be amended without further delay to prevent long-term exclusion.
Local impact on families
Smith described daily contact with constituents in relatively low-paid jobs who fall above the threshold but cannot service a home loan. He warned the system is denying good, hard-working people and their families the opportunity to own their own homes and risking a lifetime trapped in rental accommodation.
Department response
Minister Brown has confirmed his department is carrying out an analysis of current household income conditions, including income disregards and one-off income changes. Smith acknowledged these measures but said analysis must lead to prompt policy change to provide certainty and hope for those on social housing lists.
Next steps and political context
Smith said he will reflect these serious concerns to ministers and noted Minister Cummins is also examining the area. The speech frames an immediate call for policy adjustment to address gaps between income thresholds and the realities of mortgage access and housing costs in rural counties.
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Thank you very much Seanan Comhairle. Minister, I renew my appeal again in relation to the urgent need to increase the income eligibility limits for social housing both in County Cavan and County Monaghan. The social housing income baseline is 30,000 in both counties and this is totally inadequate in view of the costs today for people buying or building a home. Daily I am dealing with constituents who are working hard in relatively low paid jobs and they are above the present income limits. At the same time those people have no hope whatsoever of getting a mortgage as their income is too low to service a home loan. Minister Brown confirmed to me recently in parliamentary in replies to parliamentary questions that his department is carrying out an analysis of present household income conditions and these conditions Minister need to be amended without further delay. The present system is denying good hard-working people and their families the opportunity to own their own homes. Those people must not be condemned to a lifetime of renting housing accommodation. Thank you. Thank you very much Stephanie and look I appreciate the the issue here and the significant issue of people being excluded on the margins or indeed being taken out of the social housing by virtue of income growth. I understand from Minister Brown that a revised household means policy issued to all local authorities recently around income disregards, one-off income and other changes but I know that and understand the wider issue we're all dealing with people in terms of the application for social housing every day and I will reflect the serious concerns for constituents in Cavan and Monaghan and the need to provide certainty and hope for people around the social housing list. I know Minister Cummins is examining that area as well. Thank you.
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