Vol. 521 No. 2
125 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will clarify the situation with regard to local authorities and the flexibility they have in determining the maximum they can allow under the shared mortgage ownership scheme and, in particular, if they can co-ordinate the management of the scheme given that Fingal County Council allows £90,000 while Dublin Corporation allows £110,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16793/00]
Implementation and management of the shared ownership scheme is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant housing authority. In operating the scheme, authorities should have regard to local circumstances and in this regard maximum price limits or other details are best determined by them. In this particular instance I understand that Fingal County Council made a policy decision to limit the purchase price eligible for shared ownership properties to £90,000 with a view to limiting, as far as possible, house price increases. I would also point out that the council is currently building houses directly which it envisages will be completed within this price limit, a number of which will be offered for sale under the shared ownership scheme.
