1686. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will look at excluding private pensions available through employment for the differential rent scheme for local authority tenants and that such pensions would be included under superannuation excluded from assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59593/26]

Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.

Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities. Accordingly, decisions regarding the sources of income included and disregarded for rent assessment purposes, including payments into private pensions, are matters solely for individual local authorities. I have no role in this regard.