Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2021
257. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if local authority tenants living in Part 5 housing can avail of the proposed new tenant purchase scheme; when the new tenant purchase scheme will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61193/21]
View answerThe 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. Eligible tenants are those with a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and who have been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The scheme is governed by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The regulations provide for specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V homes are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and that they remain available for people most in need of social housing support.
Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, commits to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. This commitment is being advanced as part of the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to finalise changes to the scheme before the end of the year.
