The current income limits for council housing are completely outdated. They are too low and they need to be increased urgently. These low limits have the effect of locking large numbers of low and middle income families out of both public housing and of private home ownership. Families do not qualify for council housing or for the housing assistance payment nor do they qualify for a mortgage, so they are condemned to rent privately at enormous rents forevermore. They cannot save for a deposit because of that. Some of these families have been on council lists for anything up to ten years only to be removed on review. I know the Taoiseach is going to tell me about various schemes, like help to buy, affordable housing and rent to buy, but these categories of families do not qualify for these schemes. They live from week to week and cannot afford a deposit. These income limits need to be increased urgently.

I agree with the Deputy. The Minister for housing is undertaking a review of this and is giving very serious consideration to some related issues that have to be dealt with as well in the context of increasing the thresholds but he is certainly actively looking at it.