Social and Affordable Housing

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2012

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Questions (182)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

185 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the number of local authority mortgages that are in arrears, if there are any planned changes for the way in which the rent subsidy side of the affordable mortgage is dealt with; the number of local authorities that strictly apply the rule that it can only be based on the previous year’s income; the flexibility there is in the current system; when any changes might be forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17463/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

The review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts, announced in the context of the standing down of affordable housing schemes as part of the Government's housing policy statement, will include an examination of the operational aspects of the shared ownership scheme. Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes will be informed by that review which will shortly commence.

Circular HPS4/2009 gave local authorities flexibility in applying the mortgage subsidy and states "where a purchaser suffers a reduction in income during the year the appropriate subsidy calculated on the reduced income may be applied, pro rata, from a current date and the mortgage payment reduced accordingly.”