Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on removing the clawback on all affordable housing scheme participants in order that persons who need to trade up to larger homes do not become trapped in starter homes. [17782/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Houses sold to first time buyers under the various affordable housing schemes at a significant discount from market value contain a clawback provision, in order to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes. There are no plans to abolish the clawback arrangements under the existing affordable housing schemes.

However, it should be noted that where a person is selling an affordable home and the clawback amount payable would reduce the proceeds of resale below the initial price actually paid legislation provides for the amount of the clawback payable to be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid that result.