Vol. 474 No. 4
110 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for the Environment if participants on FÁS schemes will be entitled to avail of local authority loans in relation to the purchase of council houses under the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3315/97]
The tenant purchase scheme, which is available generally to local authority tenants of more than one year's duration, offers generous discounts on the purchase price of the house, together with a shared ownership option, so as to make the purchase of their houses more affordable for tenants. The administration of the scheme is the responsibility of local authorities. Tenants such as those in receipt of social welfare payments, participants on FÁS schemes, or those who are unemployed or on low incomes, are eligible to apply to purchase under the scheme. Local authorities are required to consider all applications on their merits.
