Owen is a pensioner with severe diabetes who has had half his leg amputated and he has associated heart and kidney issues. His wife, Myrna, works full time as a home carer, but because her income takes them over the social housing income threshold, they are living effectively in a cupboard. She sleeps in the bed and Owen has to sleep on a couch with his condition, but cannot sleep until the other tenants, who also live in the accommodation, go to sleep at night, because they are using the shared accommodation. What it highlights is very vulnerable people who clearly do not have the resources to pay private rents out there are stuck in an absolutely unacceptable situation because they are over the income threshold. There are many other people like that. They should have the support of the housing assistance payment, HAP, or other housing supports in order for them to secure decent and appropriate housing for an elderly couple in that situation.

As the Deputy will be aware, we have increased the social housing income limit by €5,000 in recent months and we now have cost rental, which is an option for people who are above the social housing income limits. We will keep the limits under constant review. We have to take account of rising prices, rising wages and rising housing costs. We will keep them under review, but I would say that when it comes to any income limit or any means test, no matter where you pick or set the level, there will always be somebody who is just above it and other people who are above it as well.

It should be a sliding scale. It should not be a cliff.