The Minister for Housing is being pushed to review social housing qualification thresholds in Tipperary and to expand the vacant and derelict property grants to rural areas.
The Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary, Jackie Cahill recently met with the Housing Minister and listed these two items as two policy priorities for him in Tipperary.
The Department of Housing has informed 5 counties that the income limits for social housing are being increased in their areas from October 1st – namely counties Laois, Clare, Galway, Westmeath and Carlow, following a review of social housing income eligibility limits that began in 2021.
Deputy Cahill says there are many couples who are financially trapped between earning too much to qualify for social housing and not earning enough to afford housing prices or local rents.
Deputy Cahill describes the failure to revise the income thresholds for social housing in county Tipperary as a mistake.
Deputy Cahill also asked if the Housing Minister would extend the Croi Connaithe (Towns Fund) grant system to properties in rural areas, to make it less restrictive and more accessible for people in Tipperary.
The scheme provides a grant of between €30,000 and €50,000 for those renovating a vacant property to make it their principal residence.
The higher grant of €50,000 is available if the property is currently derelict.
