Housing list and FIS
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae complained that families on family income supplement are being removed from housing lists despite still needing homes. Minister Murphy said local authorities apply different income disregards and that the housing list reduction reflects the social housing system's targeting rules.
On a point of order, the Minister did not respond to our question. Will he meet the all-party group that wrote to him?
Comment on this
The Deputy will have to take up that matter with him again. He responded in the time available to him.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach is giving a false impression about the reduction of the housing list. If a couple with three or four children in receipt of family income supplement earn over €33,600 a year, they are knocked off the housing list. That family can never get a mortgage or build their own house. They still need a house and should be left on the housing list. People who have been on the housing list for 13 years are being thrown off it because they are in receipt of family income supplement. Surely when people are receiving social welfare payments to stay alive, they should not be thrown off the housing list, but that is what is happening in County Kerry. It is happening all around the county and it is wrong.
Comment on this
Different local authorities operate different disregards in different ways when it comes to calculating income for persons who qualify for social housing. There are different thresholds in different parts of the country. Each local authority will examine household income and, depending on the types of social welfare payment of which people are in receipt, disregard them to make sure we are doing what we want to do in the provision of social housing, which is to make sure a home is available for those who need it the most. The reduction in the housing list in the past two to three years is due to the increase in social housing stock. That is what is driving the reduction in housing lists. For those who no longer qualify for social housing, that is where the affordability scheme comes in, with affordable homes to buy and rent.
Comment on this
No, we are not going into it. It seems that it is a matter for the Deputy's county council.
Comment on this
The local authority states it is coming from the Department, not the local authority.
Comment on this
The local authority states it is coming from the Department.