Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
County Galway was at such a low base at €25,000 for people in need of support to become eligible for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and to apply for a Local Authority Home. Last month that threshold was increased by €5,000 from the 1st October 2022 and now today it has been increased again to €35,000 from the 1st January 2023.
This will be a huge benefit to people who are working and earning an income up to €35,000 and are now eligible for State support for housing. I know of young mothers and fathers working flexible hours in all types of sectors including catering, retail, healthcare to support their families and struggling with the rising cost of living. These families all over County Galway from towns like Clifden, Dunmore, Mountbellew, Glenamaddy, Loughrea to Ballinasloe will now be eligible for homes and housing assistance from Galway County Council.
There is huge demand and government has committed over €4 billion allocated for Housing for All with affordable, cost rental and social housing. With cranes on the go, we are seeing homes under construction near Tesco in Ballinasloe with Galway County Council and there is demand from the housing list. I want to thank my colleague Minister Peter Burke within the Department of Housing for the work on this.
The government has taken this action to increase housing thresholds and especially in County Galway where we are seeing a 40% increase in the threshold amount from €25,000 a few months ago to €35,000. A lot more families will be eligible for support, it is estimated 16,000 households across the country could become eligible.”
Minister of State, Peter Burke TD, with responsibility for Local Government and Planning stated
“This increase will ensure that social housing support is available to vulnerable households in Galway. It will help protect those most at risk from the recent increase in the cost of living.”
“This increase builds on the recommendations of the review into social housing income eligibility limits. My department are now working hard to produce a new income eligibility model, which will be completed in 2023.”
