Ryan calls on Minister to increase qualification thresholds for social housing applicants

Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, Brendan Ryan, has today called on Minister for Housing and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD, to increase income thresholds for social housing and to immediately put a halt on people being removed from the housing list for failing to meet the income thresholds.

Deputy Ryan said:

“As it currently stands, the income threshold level for which an applicant may qualify for social housing in Fingal is set at €35,000 per annum, for a single person.  Beyond this, depending on family sizes the threshold varies, yet for an average family of two adults and two children, the level currently sits at €38,500 per annum. In cases whereby a household contains 3 adults and 4 children, the threshold stands at its highest- €42,000. These limits were established in 2011 and have not been examined or reviewed by the government since.

“The income threshold as it stands is simply too low, and has led to more problems being created than solved. Many families in the Fingal area who have been on the housing list for in excess of 7 years “

Ryan further expressed his total frustration at the current situation, particularly at the lack of urgency on behalf of the Government, “While the Government has consistently delayed reviewing the existing thresholds, housing prices have continued to rise by up to 12% last year. Many people have since found themselves being forced to refuse increased working hours or a promotion in order to ensure that they remain on the list and do not rise above the threshold.”

Ryan described the situation as “unacceptable” and remarked that forcing workers to essentially put themselves into poverty in order to qualify for social housing is “disgraceful”.