Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2023
25. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will outline the changes that took place to the tenant purchase scheme in recent months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53597/23]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. The Programme for Government and Housing for All commit to maintaining the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home, subject to a number of reforms.
The Scheme was originally introduced during 2016. A review of the Scheme was carried out during 2021 with changes last being made to the Scheme on 1 February 2022. The changes which took place during 2022 included a reduction in the minimum qualifying reckonable income from €15,000 to €12,500 per year. In addition, the minimum period for which a tenant must have been in receipt of social housing supports in order to be deemed eligible for the Scheme was increased from one year to ten years.
These changes were introduced to strike an appropriate balance between increasing the scope for those in receipt of long-term housing support to purchase their local authority home, and ensuring the continued sustainability of the Scheme by not unduly diminishing local authority housing stock.
Schemes such as these are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are effective and sustainable. My Department recently concluded a further examination of the workings of the Scheme and I am currently considering proposals in this regard.
