Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 January 2014
128. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the restrictions that apply to a person who purchased a property from a local authority under the affordable housing scheme and who may now wish to sell the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4449/14]
View answerSince the introduction of affordable housing schemes in 1999 qualifying applicants were enabled to become home owners through purchase of designated affordable units, including through the shared ownership scheme. The primary objective of the affordable homes schemes was to assist households who would otherwise not have been in a position to purchase a home. As the properties were acquired by the purchaser at a significant discount from market value a clawback mechanism was introduced to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes.
The Government’s 2011 Housing Policy Statement subsequently announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2013, which provided the basis for affordable housing schemes. The new approach to the provision of social housing, adopted in the Housing Policy Statement, was mindful of both the changed context arising from the collapse of the housing market, and its impact on individual households.
Details regarding the review of Part V are available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. The period for public submissions has closed and submissions from a variety of interested parties are now under consideration.
I expect to be in a position to formulate future policy approaches and actions, including in relation to affordable housing, taking account of the consultation process, in the near future.
