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Tenant Purchase Scheme Review

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Questions (617, 621, 628)

Robert Troy

Question:

617. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of proposed changes to the tenant purchase scheme; if a provision will be put in place in this scheme by which applicants who may not meet the criteria can be given the opportunity to make a once-off payment in full for the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39462/18]

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Robert Troy

Question:

621. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the changes he plans to make to the tenant purchase scheme; the timeframe for the introduction of these changes; his plans to introduce a measure by which tenants can purchase a property with a lump sum payment even if they do not meet the eligibility criteria currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39473/18]

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Mattie McGrath

Question:

628. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is in the process of completing a review of the tenant incremental purchase scheme for local authority housing; if he will consider expanding the criteria to include those who may be in receipt of social protection payments, especially old age pensioners and those who would be able to demonstrate their ability to purchase the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39664/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 621 and 628 together.

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase 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 a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.

The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant local authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, local authorities include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.

In determining reckonable income, the income of all tenants of the house, including adult children that are joint tenants, is included, as is the income of the spouse, civil partner or other partner / co-habitant of a tenant who lives in the house with them, thus ensuring the appropriate level of discount is applied to the purchase price.

The minimum income criterion was introduced in order to ensure the sustainability of the scheme. Applicants must demonstrate that they have an income that is long-term and sustainable in nature. This ensures that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.

In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which took place in 2017 and saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.

The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations. In finalising the report some further consultation was necessary and due consideration had to be given to possible implementation arrangements.

These matters are now almost completed and I expect to be in a position in the near future to publish the outcome of the review.

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