Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2016
76. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will amend the new tenant purchase scheme to allow residents of houses that were built under Part V agreements to be included in the scheme and allow them to purchase their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31002/16]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016 and allows eligible local authority tenants to buy their homes.
The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provides for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale. 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 very important in promoting social integration.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and reaffirmed in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, it is intended that a review of the Scheme will be initiated in January 2017 following the first 12 months of operation and any changes to the terms and conditions of the scheme which are considered necessary based on the evidence gathered at that stage will be brought forward.
