Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 337: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the local authorities that are implementing the incremental purchase scheme; the number of properties that have been purchased to date in each local authority area; the targets that have been set for 2011; the funding that has been provided to each local authority to facilitate delivery of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24482/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Part 3 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2009 provides for an incremental purchase scheme in respect of newly – built houses reserved by housing authorities for the purpose. Regulations to implement the Incremental Purchase Scheme for new homes were made in June 2010. The scheme is available to all housing authorities. I am not aware of any completed purchases to date under the scheme and it is not appropriate to set targets for a scheme such as this which will be provided by housing authorities according to the specific opportunities and needs in their own areas. It is acknowledged that the current economic climate, reduced demand for house purchase including purchase by local authority tenants, constraints on availability of credit to applicants and a scale back of new-build local authority houses have all combined to limit the potential of the scheme at present. Capital funding is not needed by authorities as funding to purchase or build a housing unit designated for Incremental Purchase has generally already been provided by the Exchequer.