Housing income limits
Deputy McGrath criticised the rushed legislative workload and asked about reviewing income limits for housing supports in Tipperary. The Tánaiste said a decision had been made on new tenancies and that higher limits should not push rents up further.
I too as leader of the Rural Independent Group want to thank gach éinne atá ag obair anseo.
I thank the Ceann Comhairle and all the staff, including the ushers, gardaí and Bills Office, who worked late into the night trying to accommodate all the legislation that the Government rushed through. Deputy McNamara said it was 100 Bills at about one minute each. It is no way to run a parliament.
I ask about the cap on income limits which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, has promised to review. Tipperary County Council is waiting. Since 2011, there has been no review. It is €25,000 for a single person and €27,500 for a couple. The Tánaiste just said inflation is almost 10%. People cannot live on this package. This is way too low. The review was meant to be out long before the summer recess. Here we are, going on the summer recess, and we do not have the review. We need it, as do the council officials and the people. The public representatives want it as well. We have to be fair to people and give them a reasonable chance of getting on the housing list. Those figures are totally out of date. 2011 was the last time, which was 11 years ago.
Comment on this
I do not have a date for a decision on that but a decision has been made on new tenancies. It is right and proper that we should increase the HAP limits but we do not want to increase them and cause rents to rise further. A distinction is being made where it is a new tenancy. A higher limit is now allowed for that.