Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 5

Written Answers. - House Prices.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

445 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the maximum shared ownership loan available to potential home purchasers in County Kildare is ?130,000 and that the average costs of a first time buyer's house is well in excess of ?220,000; if his attention has further been drawn to the consequent discrimination whereby such home buyers in County Kildare are forced to leave the county and in many cases, the country in order to obtain a home of their own; if he has initiatives to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16897/03]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

As indicated in reply to Question No. 257 of 14 May 2003, the implementation of the housing loans schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, is a matter for individual local authorities. In operating the scheme, local authorities should have regard to local circumstances in determining the maximum house price limit or any other details they deem appropriate. I consider that these issues are best determined by individual local authorities. Under the shared ownership scheme, Kildare County Council completed 89 transactions and issued 186 approvals in principle during 2002, which ranks the council the fourth highest in the overall level of activity throughout the country.