Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
467. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a person who has acquired the necessary funds through alternative means such as inheritance is deemed ineligible to participate in the tenant purchase scheme on the grounds that his or her sole income is from social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63158/21]
View answer582. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will amend the tenant purchase scheme to allow carers who have given up work to care for loved ones to avail of the amended scheme to ensure that carers are not discriminated against in terms of purchasing their own homes. [2039/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 582 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme.
Section 30 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 provides that the Minister may set out a minimum income required to purchase under the scheme. The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose - it ensures the scheme is sustainable and the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period. For these reasons, certain social welfare payments, including Carer’s Allowance, are not considered when determining an applicant's reckonable income.
In line with commitments in Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, I recently introduced changes to the Tenant Purchase Scheme. These included inter alia revising the minimum income criteria for applicants downwards from €15,000 to €12,500, thereby allowing older tenants in particular (whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension) to buy their homes if they have the means.
