Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 425 of 16 November 2005, if he can make a statement regarding which local authorities have been found to be charging tenants attempting to purchase their rural cottage homes, under the tenant purchase scheme; the market value of their homes inclusive of the site cost, due to the fact that the site was provided free to the county council by the tenant at the time of construction. [35858/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated in reply to Question No. 425 of 16 November 2005, the administration of the tenant purchase scheme is a matter for each local authority and my Department does not compile the detailed information sought. I have asked my Department to draw the attention of local authorities again to the terms of the current scheme which provide that, where the site of a dwelling has been provided to a housing authority for a nominal sum, the sale price should be reduced accordingly for the tenant purchaser.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has made any provision in the 2006 Estimates for increases in the income limits for affordable housing, shared ownership or for social housing; and the limits that will apply in 2006. [35993/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has made any provision in the 2006 Estimates for changes in the terms and conditions of shared ownership or affordable housing in relation to the deposit required, the subsidy towards repayments at different income levels, the maximum loan amount, loan proportion or the maximum house value; and the values which will prevail in 2006. [35994/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together.

Funding for the affordable housing and shared ownership schemes in 2006 is partly included in the Abridged Estimates Volume published last week and partly included in the public capital programme, details of which will be published on 7 December, budget day. The total 2006 provision for both schemes will reflect the outcome of a review of the loan and income limits and levels of subsidy recently conducted by my Department. Details will be announced next month. While the setting of a maximum house value under the shared ownership scheme is a matter for local authorities, terms and conditions of both schemes are kept under continuous review.

In accordance with their scheme of letting priorities, local authorities have regard to the household income when assessing an application for social housing. However, the application of an income limit and the manner of its operation is a matter for individual local authorities but they must be satisfied that applicants have a long-term need for housing and are unable to provide it from their own resources.