Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 982: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on reducing the means eligibility for applicants who wish to apply for the affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14110/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Eligibility for the affordable housing schemes is determined on the basis that applicants are in need of housing and cannot afford to purchase a house on the open market. In the case of the shared ownership and 1999 affordable housing schemes, applicants must satisfy an income test. Under this income test single applicants are eligible for these schemes where their income in the previous tax year was €40,000 or under. In the case of a two income household, the income limit is based on the formula that 21⁄2 times the main income plus once the secondary income does not exceed €100,000.

In approving an affordable home purchase, local authorities must consider the ability of applicants to make the necessary mortgage payments and satisfy themselves that the borrower's income is sufficient to meet the financial commitments involved under the scheme. As such, I do not believe it is necessary to introduce means testing for the affordable schemes apart from the maximum household income criteria set for shared ownership and 1999 affordable housing schemes which ensures that these schemes remain targeted at a particular income category.