On the income thresholds for social housing, it is stated on page 22 of the programme for Government, which was drafted nearly three years ago, that the Government will "prioritise those on the lowest incomes and avoid creating social welfare traps". The reality in the case of Laois and Offaly is that hundreds of families are caught in a ridiculous limbo situation, with outdated income thresholds. They cannot get on the social housing waiting list but their incomes are way too low to get a mortgage or a loan under the new Rebuilding Ireland loan scheme.

A couple's income must be below €504 per week while a family of four must have an income below €528 per week. We have the ridiculous situation in which a local authority road sweeper in Laois or Offaly cannot get on the waiting list. People who are working part-time cannot get on it.

I thank the Deputy.

People who are in receipt of family income support cannot get onto the housing waiting list. I raise this with the Tánaiste because I received a reply from the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government yesterday.

The Deputy is out of time.

I will just read the relevant sentence. It says that as part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility will take place in each area. The Minister goes on to say-----

Please do not go on. The Deputy is out of time.

The reply is a lot of waffle and it does not deal with the situation. It says the Housing Agency is continuing to carry out the detailed statistical work which should underpin the review on behalf of the Department.

Please, the Deputy is out of time.

That is going on for three years while people caught in private rented accommodation cannot get a mortgage or loan under the new affordable housing scheme and cannot get onto a housing waiting list.

Please, Deputy.

I want the Tánaiste to give me a clear answer as to when this madness will change.

I call Deputy Scanlon to speak briefly on the same matter.

This is not just about Laois and Offaly. It affects Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal and everywhere else. I have a number of cases involving young families with children who pay more in rent than they would if they had a local authority mortgage. They have been refused and appealed and refused again. It is wrong. They cannot go on the council housing list because their incomes are slightly over the limit. Something drastic must be done.

I recall debates when I was in the Department dealing with the housing issue. As the Minister said in reply to Deputy Stanley, a review is under way. When it is completed, any changes to be made will be brought forward by the Minister to address income threshold levels.

It should at least be moved on.