230. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if carer's allowance and carer's benefit is disregarded from income assessed for local authority housing; and the income that the local authority have discretion in relation to disregard. [66005/26]

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.

Under the Household Means Policy, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, www.kildarestreet.com/glossary/?gl=2 Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to decide to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature

Carer's Allowance, full or half rate, and Carer's Benefit are not assessable as income under the Household Means Policy, and in all cases, shall be disregarded for the purposes of assessing income.

More detail on what income is assessable and the full list of disregards is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fb1f2-social-housing-support-household-means-policy/