Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Housing Statistics.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

138 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if statistics are compiled by or available to his Department which indicate the average or typical cost of a house to a first time buyer; if figures are available for the average price of a house for which a first-time buyer grant was approved; if so, if he will provide such figures for the years 1997-2000 inclusive; if not, the reason such figures are not compiled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2739/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Analysis of house purchase loan survey data available to my Department, which includes information on almost 40% of all mortgage-based housing transactions, indicates trends in national average new house prices purchased by first-time buyers. Based on this survey data, the average price paid by first-time buyers for a new house in the years 1997 to 2000, inclusive, was £74,500, £81,500, £99,600, and £116,500, provisional figure, respectively.

My Department does not collate price information on houses bought by first-time buyers, based on their qualification for the new house purchase grant. My Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive review of its house price data collection system to expand the range of data collected and its analysis. The study is expected to be completed shortly and the report will be made publicly available.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

139 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, in respect of the latest figures which are available to him, he will provide details of the number of houses which were purchased in respect of every tenth percentile of house price up to the value of £300,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2740/01]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

My Department does not obtain comprehensive house price percentiles from the lending institutions, but only receives average house price data. However, analysis of house purchase loan survey data available to my Department, which includes information voluntarily provided by borrowers covering some 40% of all mortgage-based housing transactions, suggests the following spread of house purchases for 2000 for every tenth percentile of house price up to £300,000:

House Price Percentiles	Number ofHouses	Percentage of Houses
£0-£30,000	55	0.2%
£30,001-£60,000	1,675	5.6%
£60,001-£90,000	5,922	19.6%
£90,001-£120,000	7,952	26.3%
£120,001-£150,000	7,076	23.4%
£150,001-£180,000	3,433	11.4%
£180,001-£210,000	1,824	6.0%
£210,001-£240,000	992	3.3%
£240,001-£270,000	770	2.6%
£270,001-£300,000	488	1.6%
	30,187	100%