Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
244. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if residents of Part V housing are allowed under legislation to purchase their houses under a housing purchase scheme from their local authority; if not, if he will introduce provisions to allow this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11631/16]
View answerProvision was made in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 for a new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses. Following the necessary preparatory work the new Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having been in receipt of social housing support for a minimum period of one year and having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum.
The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V units are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme to ensure that units delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains central to promoting social integration.
The new scheme is in the very early stages of implementation and my Department is monitoring its operation in consultation with housing authorities. I intend to undertake a review of the scheme following the first 12 months of operation and I will bring forward any changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which are considered necessary based on the evidence gathered at that stage.
