Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 58 together.

The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 set a commencement date of 1 January 2016 for the introduction of the tenant incremental purchase scheme of 2016. In Galway City, the number of homes sold under the current scheme in 2017 was eight, while a further nine homes were sold in 2018. The scheme in Galway city was not started until December 2016, having been slower to implement it, which is why there are no figures for that year. In the case of Galway county, the number of homes sold under the scheme in 2017 was 11, while nine homes were sold under the scheme in 2018. No homes were sold in Galway city or county under the scheme in 2016.

In respect of the loans accessed and their value, it should be noted the financing of a house sold under the tenant incremental purchase scheme is a separate matter to that of a tenant being deemed eligible under the scheme. If the tenant is deemed eligible, he or she may fund the purchase of a house from one, or a combination, of his or her own resources or a mortgage provided by a financial institution or a local authority home purchase loan. My Department does not hold information on local authority loans accessed specifically by the tenant purchase scheme. One can also use one's own funds to buy a house.

In line with the commitment given in the Government's Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness,a review of the operation of the 12 months of the tenant purchase scheme has been completed and a full report has been prepared setting out our findings and recommendations.

It is intended that a comprehensive package of social housing reform measures will be brought to Government by the Minister in the near future and the relevant recommendations made in the review of the tenant purchase scheme will be progressed as part of that process. The publication of the review will also be addressed in that context.

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