Need to increase social housing income threshold in Mayo

THE income threshold to qualify for social housing needs to be raised significantly in Mayo, the monthly county council meeting has been told.

It should be up at €40,000, Councillor Patsy O'Brien has suggested, saying it is well time for the limits to be raised.

Currently, a couple with two children earning more that €32,500 won't qualify for a council home.

Councillor O'Brien's call comes at a time of increased pressure on working families to pay rent and tenancy terminations.

There was agreement that the thresholds are 'ridiculous', but Councillor Peter Flynn pointed out there was nothing any of them in the room could do.

They had passed motions asking for revised limits.

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