Michael Moynihan
Question:19 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment if he will publish a progress report on the implementation of the shared housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Shared Ownership Housing Loan Scheme.
Toddy O'Sullivan
Question:33 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the problems of a legal and administrative nature in the implementation of the shared ownership scheme announced by him; if he has any proposals to review the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:37 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment the total number of loans approved by the various local authorities under the shared ownership loan scheme announced in the Programme for Social Housing; the total number of applications received by the local authorities to date; if he will outline the total number of loans which have been paid under this heading; if it is expected that the target for such loan approvals will be reached before the end of the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Brendan Howlin
Question:57 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the number of applications for shared equity house purchase received to date by local authorities; the number of applications which have been granted under this scheme; the total sum allocated to this scheme for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:102 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the legal difficulties being experienced by housing authorities in their efforts to implement his Department's shared ownership housing loan scheme; the action, if any, he has taken to resolve these legal difficulties; if such resolution will involve legislation and, if so, the consequent plans which he has to introduce such necessary legislation and when such legislation will be circulated; if, as a consequence, he will confirm that until such legislation is enacted the shared ownership housing loan scheme cannot be implemented; if he will in the interests of accuracy and clarity have public notices published to advertise this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 33, 37, 57 and 102 together.
A high level of interest has been shown in this innovative form of tenure which will help persons on lower incomes achieve home ownership in stages. I understand from the local authorities who are responsible for administering the scheme that, by the end of last month, they had received 758 applications, had given approval in principle to 59 and had completed three transactions.
I am fully satisfied that the interim arrangements, which were devised by my Department with the benefit of expert legal advice and notified to local authorities last May, provide an effective basis to allow transactions under a pilot programme to proceed in advance of legislation. I again urge all local authorities to implement these interim arrangements fully. The Housing Bill, which will, I hope, be published in the current Dáil session, will provide a statutory basis for the scheme.
I have authorised housing authorities to complete 1,000 transactions as part of the pilot programme. The capital costs are being funded from the provision of £45 million made this year for house purchase loans.