Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018
597. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of applications for the tenant purchase scheme received by Tipperary County Council in 2016 and 2017; the number of transactions completed in the years concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is a matter for individual local authorities, in line with relevant legislation, including the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. Local authorities are by law (Section 63(1) of the Local Government Act 2001) independent in the performance of their functions.
My Department does however publish information on the sale of local authority houses each year which can be found on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
I expect to be in a position to publish data in relation to sales for 2017 in the coming weeks.
In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations. This includes data on sales and applications to purchase during the calendar year 2016. In finalising the report some further inter-Departmental consultation was necessary and due consideration had to be given to possible implementation arrangements. These matters are now almost completed and I expect to be in a position to publish the outcome of the review shortly.
