Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 4

Written Answers - Shared Ownership Scheme.

Noel Ahern

Question:

147 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment the number of shared ownership transactions completed successfully on a nationwide basis for each of the past three years; if an analysis of the numbers as between single people and joint ownership is available; if the number of approvals for large urban areas, for example, Dublin, is in decline; and the alterations, if any, which are planned for the scheme to keep it relevant in the context of huge increases in the price of houses. [21140/96]

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

Information in so far as it is available to my Department on activity under the shared ownership system, which is administered by local authorities, is contained in the housing statistics bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Statistical returns from authorities do not differentiate between single and joint applicants.

Returns by local authorities do not indicate a fall-off in activity under the shared ownership system. Due to changes in the way approvals are reported, the best indicator of activity is the number of transactions completed and which, in the case of Dublin Corporation, continues to increase.

I have no proposals, at this stage, to amend the terms of the scheme.