Threshold for council housing list ‘too low’ – Tully
The Minister for Housing is being urged to review the thresholds to allow people to get on the social housing list.
Senator Pauline Tully made the call in the Seanad.
The current thresholds stipulate that a single person must be earning under €30,000 a year to get on the social housing list, while a couple must have a combined income of under €31,500 to qualify.
"There are only marginal increases per child or extra person in your family," said the Sinn Féin councillor.
“These thresholds are in place in County Cavan and seven other counties, however it is €35,000 in 12 other counties and €40,000 in our cities and within the official commuter belt,” she revealed.
Continuing, Deputy Tully highlighted how the average new tenancy rental rate in Cavan is now over €1,100 a month.
"Yesterday, a person told me it w €1,400 for a one-bedroom apartment that she was looking at for herself and her two children. It is not even sufficient for her needs, but that is all she was going to be able to get due to the shortage of available rental properties," she revealed.
The Kilnaleck based Senator further revealed how she frequently speaks with people who have been evicted from a rental property due to the landlord selling.
Limbo
"The problem then arises that there is a very small number of rentals available across the county and any rentals that are available are not affordable for people on low/medium incomes. However, they are earning too much to get on the social housing list, so they are left with nowhere to go even though they are working full time jobs. That is why I am calling on the Minister to at the very least increase the thresholds for social housing," argued Sen Tully.
In Cavan, some 1,145 households are listed for social housing, compared to 1200 this time last year.
In 2024, the local authority received 461 social housing applications; while, to date in 2025, 456 applications have been received.
She further spoke on instances that have been brought to her attention by constituents where people are being removed from the social housing list once their income goes over the threshold.
"They are distraught as frequently the increase is due to somebody who is working in a low-paid or part-time job but are also getting the ‘Working Family Payment’. The ‘Working Family Payment’ is a weekly social welfare payment for low-earning employees with children to help with their living costs but it is this very payment that pushes them over the threshold preventing them from accessing social housing supports," detailed Sen Tully.
She finished by stating, “I know it is not long since those rates were reviewed but in light of the increases in rent evident across the entire country and the cost of living crisis they need to be reviewed again, and I am calling on the Minister to do this without delay”.
Forms of social housing support include Housing Assistance Payment, leasing scheme, approved housing bodies and local authority accommodation.