Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2016

Thursday, 21 January 2016

Ceisteanna (158)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he will launch a new tenant purchase scheme. [2668/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The scheme is open to tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme, and who have been in receipt of social housing support for a minimum period of one year and who have a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum.

Similar to other incremental purchase model schemes currently operating, the scheme involves progressive discounts for purchasers linked to household income, with the housing authority placing an incremental charge on the house equivalent to the discount given.