Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will seek to amend the conditions preventing former home owners from applying for an affordable house under the affordable scheme in view of the number of persons losing their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19901/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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While first-time buyers are a particular target group for affordable housing, current legislation provides that previous ownership of a house does not render an applicant ineligible for an affordable home. It is a matter for the local authority concerned to consider the priority to be given to a person's application for affordable housing having regard to that person's housing need and to the availability of a suitable affordable home. Detailed eligibility criteria for purchase of an affordable home are determined by each local authority in their priority schemes, and include housing need, income and financial circumstances of applicants. A local authority must also take account of the ability of a prospective affordable purchaser to repay the relevant mortgage or local authority home loan.