Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015
598. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason housing specifically designed for occupation by Travellers, where more than one house or dwelling is provided, is excluded from sale under SI No. 483 of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44235/15]
View answer599. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government where an applicant has adequate funding to purchase a house or a family member is willing to make the money available to the applicant, the reason under SI No. 483 of 2015 a minimum annual income is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44236/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.
The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses will come into operation on 1 January 2016 and will provide opportunities for tenants to become homeowners, while also promoting sustainable communities and generating additional funding from sale proceeds for local authorities to refurbish and replenish its housing stock.
The scheme will be open to tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme, and who have been in receipt of social housing support for a minimum period of one year and who have a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum.
This minimum reckonable income under the new scheme is the same as that which exists for the incremental purchase scheme for certain new local authority houses and is considered appropriate, both as a means for determining the discount to be applied to the market value of the house and also to ensure that the tenant is in a position to meet the ongoing costs of maintaining the house for the period of the incremental purchase charge.
Similar to other incremental purchase model schemes currently operating, the scheme involves progressive discounts for purchasers linked to household income, with the housing authority placing an incremental charge on the house equivalent to the discount given.
A tenant may fund the purchase price of the house from one or a combination of the tenant’s own resources, including savings, contributions from family members or from a mortgage.
The exclusion of houses that have been specifically designed in a group setting for occupation by Travellers will ensure that the social housing units provided under these schemes to date will remain within the ownership and control of local authorities and will therefore be available on an on-going basis to meet the specific housing needs of Travellers.
