Vol. 554 No. 5
1537 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider allowing local authority tenants use the mortgage allowance scheme as part of their application for the shared ownership scheme to help them buy private housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16600/02]
The mortgage allowance scheme and the shared ownership scheme are separate mechanisms designed to facilitate certain low income households access to home ownership. Under the shared ownership scheme, a rental subsidy is payable to lower income applicants which substantially reduces the amount of rent to be paid. The mortgage allowance scheme is available to local authority tenants, tenant purchasers and tenants of a house provided by a voluntary body under the rental subsidy scheme who are leaving their existing accommodation and acquiring a private house with a mortgage loan other than under the shared ownership scheme. Payment of mortgage allowance to shared ownership applicants could involve a significant double subsidy and, accordingly, I have no plans to amend the terms of the scheme on the lines suggested.
Question No. 1538 answered with Question No. 1497.
