A DONEGAL County Councillor will today call for urgent changes to social housing income thresholds in Donegal, warning they no longer reflect the cost of living.
Cllr Jimmy Brogan is claiming that thresholds are no longer fit for purpose and fail to reflect the sharp rise in living costs, escalating rents and recent increases in the minimum wage.
The independent councillor has tabled a motion on the issue for today’s plenary meeting of Donegal County Council.
He said many low-income working households in Donegal are being unfairly excluded from support.
“Individuals earning the minimum wage are effectively penalised for taking on additional hours or accessing supports such as Working Family Payment, as doing so can push them above the eligibility limits for social housing,” Cllr Brogan told the Donegal News.
“This has created a growing group of households who are caught in a ‘middle gap’ – unable to afford private rental accommodation or secure a mortgage, yet are deemed ineligible for social housing assistance.”
He stressed that the situation is placing increasing financial pressure on families across Donegal and is contributing to a heightened risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.
“Urgent action is now required to ensure that housing supports reflect the real cost of living and provide fair access to those who need them.
“The facts are that the income limits are far too low.”
Cllr Jimmy Brogan will table the motion at today’s plenary meeting of Donegal County Council.
The Mountcharles councillor, insisted that the responsibility to increase the thresholds lies with the government and the Department of Housing, and not the local authority.
“The problem is it’s legislation, so the council’s housing offices can do nothing about it.”
He spoke of the unique pressures facing the county, particularly with the high level of short term rentals compared to long term rental properties available.
“We are in just as sticky a situation as Dublin or anywhere else. The rent might not be as high but the scarcity of the houses is a huge problem,” he said.
The motion being put forward by Cllr Brogan also outlines that the housing minister should review and reclassify Donegal under Band 1 of the means assessment rather than Band 3, the lowest band, where the county currently sits.
On Band 3, the single adult limit is €30,000, whereas on Band 1 the limit is increased to €40,000. It is then adjusted depending on how many adults and children are in the household.
Meanwhile, a single working person on the minimum wage earns €29,432 (based on 52 weeks), or a gross weekly income of €566.
Cllr Brogan explained that if the person works a few hours overtime or has any other income, they risk being over the income limit for social housing supports.
“A couple have no chance whatsoever of getting on the social housing list, if even one of them is working full time.
“A single working parent with children who is entitled to the Working Family Payment is also over the income limit and cannot get on the social housing list.
“Parents working part-time are also being hit hard because the Working Family Payment will bring them over the income limit and they are excluded from the housing list.”