Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 882: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a local authority is liable for any part of the maintenance charge fee for apartments when it holds an interest in the property through the shared ownership scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10525/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the shared ownership scheme is to enhance affordability by allowing eligible applicants to purchase at least 40% of the value of the dwelling and to rent the remaining share from the local authority. In effect, the scheme offers home ownership in a number of steps to purchasers who cannot afford full outright ownership in the traditional way.

The statutory provisions underpinning the scheme provide, inter alia, that responsibility for management and control of a house leased by way of shared ownership shall not lie with the housing authority. Accordingly, owners of apartments bought by way of shared ownership, in multi-unit structures to which management company arrangements apply would, in common with the other owners of units, have to hold membership of the management company and pay the appropriate charges including, agreed maintenance charges.