Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 4

Written Answers. - Tenant Purchase Schemes.

Noel Davern

Question:

88 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in dealing with the application of persons (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the 1993 scheme; the plans, if any, he has to expedite the matter, in view of the delay; and if this couple will be entitled to avail of the new scheme. [9531/95]

Noel Davern

Question:

89 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for the Environment the number of applicants under the 1993 scheme to purchase houses in south Tipperary, both county and urban; the number outlined into agreements; the number that have been processed; and when this scheme will be finalised. [9532/95]

Dermot Ahern

Question:

102 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment the number of local authority tenants who purchased their local authority house under a tenant/purchase scheme on a county by county basis; the number purchased on a yearly basis in each of the years 1989 to 1994; the amount of applications refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9547/95]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 89 and 102 together.

The administration of tenant purchase schemes in their area, including the processing of individual applications, is a matter for each local authority. Consequently particulars relating to the handling of individual applications are not available in my Department.

The Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins for 1993 and 1994 (copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library) provide information, based on returns from local authorities, on activity in each county and county borough under the 1993 tenant purchase scheme. Full information about the number of houses purchased under all previous tenant purchase schemes, or the numbers of applications refused, is not available in the Department. However, details of the number of dwellings sold annually by local authorities in the years 1970 to 1994 are given in the Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins. Some details for earlier years are given in the Department's Annual Reports for those years. A new tenant purchase scheme which provides for increased discounts and the option of purchase under shared ownership arrangements was announced in the policy document "Social Housing — the Way Ahead" which was launched on 2 May 1995. Detailed information on the new scheme were sent to local authorities on 18 May 1995. They were requested to notify each tenant, who has made application to purchase under the 1993 scheme but who has not concluded purchase of the house, that the application now qualifies for consideration under the new scheme and to advise the tenant of the reduced purchase price of the house and the shared ownership option. Authorities were also requested to invite other eligible tenants to make application to purchase under the new scheme and to facilitate the completion of transactions to purchase as quickly as possible.