Government approves increase in social housing income eligibility threshold for Leitrim

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has informed the Government of an increase of €5,000 to the social housing income eligibility threshold for Leitrim. The increase will take effect from 01 January 2023.

This significant change is being taken pending the development and roll-out of a revised income eligibility model (and income thresholds) in 2023. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently working on this revised model.

Commenting on the increase, Minister O’Brien said: “This increase will ensure that social housing support is available to vulnerable households in Leitrim. It will help protect those most at risk from the recent increase in the cost of living. This change, the first in over a decade, builds on the recommendations of the review into social housing income eligibility limits. My department and I are now working hard to produce a new income eligibility model, which will be completed in 2023.”

The social housing income eligibility review fulfilled a commitment in Housing for All, the Government’s housing plan. The plan contains a range of actions and measures to ensure over 300,000 new social, affordable, cost rental and private homes are built by 2030, backed by over €4bn in annual guaranteed State investment to the end of 2026. To the end of September 2022, over 55,000 homes were either completed (27,773) or commenced (27,417). The plan’s overall target for housing supply in 2022 is 24,600.