Vol. 560 No. 1
922 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to increase the approval limits for the shared ownership scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in some parts of the country it is not possible to purchase a house for the maximum limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1538/03]
Implementation and management of the shared ownership scheme is, in the first instance, a matter for each housing authority concerned. In operating the scheme, housing authorities should have regard to local circumstances in determining maximum finance and price limits or any other conditions they believe appropriate. These issues are best determined by the housing authorities.
The income limit for eligibility for the shared ownership scheme was revised to €32,000 for a single income household, with a pro rata increase for a dual income household with effect from 1 January 2002. At present there are no plans to revise this income limit. My Department will keep the terms of the scheme under review.
923 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider making special provision for people with disabilities to enable them to avail of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1539/03]
Persons may avail of either the shared ownership or affordable schemes if applicants satisfy a local authority that they meet the following criteria: they are in need of housing and their income satisfies the income test such that in the case of a single income household gross income does not exceed €32,000 and in the case of a two income household, such that two and a half times the gross income of the principal earner plus once the gross income of the subsidiary earner does not exceed €80,000; or a person whose application for local authority housing has been approved by the local authority; or a local authority tenant or tenant purchaser who wishes to buy a private house and to return their present house to the local authority; or a tenant for more than one year of a house provided by a voluntary body under the rental subsidy scheme who wishes to buy a private house and return their present house to the voluntary body.
Eligibility for Part V affordable housing is subject to a person being in need of accommodation and whose income would not be adequate to meet the mortgage repayments on a market value house appropriate to his or her accommodation needs because such payments would exceed 35% of that person's annual net income.
At present there are no plans to review the eligibility criteria of the schemes but my Department will keep them under review.
