Housing Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Ceisteanna (217)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

217. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the incremental tenant purchase scheme introduced in 2016 is still operating; the funding allocated to the scheme in the past three years; if changes to the scheme now stipulate that tenants must be in receipt of housing assistance for ten years before availing of such schemes; the reason for this change; if such criteria applies across all local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44544/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme remains open to applications from eligible social housing tenants. The scheme is not funding based, rather it operates by way of a discounted price on the purchase of a local authority property by a qualifying tenant. The discount is typically 60%, 50% or 40% depending on the purchaser’s level of reckonable income.The scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes coming into effect from 1 February 2022. The changes included a reduced level of income required to qualify under the scheme (down from €15,000 to €12,500), and an increase in the time required to be in receipt of social housing support from one to ten years.

The latter change seeks to encourage good, long-term tenants to stay in their homes and support development of socially sustainable communities. It also seeks to ensure, at a time of high demand, that local authority social housing stock is not excessively reduced and remains available for the most vulnerable in society.