Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 7

Written Answers. - Purchase of Local Authority Dwellings.

John Browne

Question:

97 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for the Environment the total number of tenants who applied to buy out their houses from local authorities in each of the years 1993 to 1995; and the numbers who applied prior to and after the changes made by him in allowing the £3,000 new house grant. [14671/95]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Ms McManus)

Based on returns from local authorities, the number of applications by tenants to purchase their dwellings were: 1993, 3,942; 1994, 5,623; 1995 (to 30 June), 1,065.

The number of applications received by individual authorities is given in the Housing Statistics Bulletin published quarterly and available in the Oireachtas Library.

Local authorities were notified, on the introduction of the improved terms, that applications on hands, where purchase of the house had not been completed by 1 May 1995, qualified for the improved terms and that the tenants of such houses should be advised of the reduced purchase price and of the option to purchase by way of shared ownership.