Housing Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Ceisteanna (609, 631, 651)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

609. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on reforming the tenant purchase scheme under Housing for All. [43322/22]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

631. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when a new Ministerial direction will be announced to allow persons whose pension is their primary source of income to be eligible to apply under the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43464/22]

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

651. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when local authorities will be issued with the new guidelines for the tenant purchase scheme that was launched in January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43840/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 609, 631 and 651 together.

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes subsequently coming into effect from 1 February 2022.

The changes include a reduction in the minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. The time an applicant is required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.

Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed per the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received thereafter assessed in accordance with the new requirements.

While local authorities were formally advised of these changes by Department Circular on 12 January 2022, revised scheme guidelines, and a Ministerial Order giving effect to changes in the treatment of the State contributory and non-contributory pensions for reckonable income purposes, will issue shortly. 

Question No. 610 answered with Question No. 535.