New social housing income threshold doesn't go far enough says Glynn

The government should have increased the income threshold for social housing eligibility in Westmeath by a bigger amount.

That’s according to Cllr Ken Glynn, who told the Westmeath Examiner that while he welcomes the news that income threshold has been increased from €25,000 to €30,000, he feels that the government should have went further.

He says that the current increase will enable more local people to not only put their names on the social housing list, but will also enable them to access Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). However, he also noted that HAP payments should also reviewed upwards due to the increase in rental costs in Westmeath and the rest of the country in recent years.

He said that he has spoken to a number of local constituents since the income threshold has been increased and they are “delighted” that they are now eligible for social housing support and HAP. Although the threshold increase is a positive development, Cllr Glynn feels that the government “has not gone far enough”.

“No one is going to get a mortgage on €31,000, so you are not going to get a mortgage and you are not going to be able to put your name on the social housing list. The government has to be more open minded and look at possibly increasing the income threshold to €35,000.

He also said that the income threshold should be reviewed on an annual basis. Cllr Glynn said that in reality current mortgage lending levels of 3.5 times an applicant’s salary means that even if someone is earning €35,000 per annum they will find it almost impossible to find a house to purchase in Mullingar and the rest of the county given current house prices.