Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2013
146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a tenant purchase scheme will be introduced; the conditions that will apply for tenants who qualify to purchase their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49986/13]
View answerWhile the 1995 tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses closed for new applications on 31 December 2012, two incremental purchase schemes remain in operation, one for newly-built local authority houses and the other for local authority apartments. Work is proceeding on the preparation of the General Scheme of a Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is expected to be submitted for Government approval before the end of the year. Among other things, the Bill will underpin a new tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses along incremental purchase lines, involving discounts for purchasing tenants linked to household income and a discount-related charge on the property that will dwindle away over a period unless the house is resold or the purchaser fails to comply with conditions of the sale. The commencement date for the new scheme will be set when the necessary regulations are made on enactment of the Bill.
