Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is considering altering the rules around the claw back for those who purchased houses in recent years under the terms of some social housing schemes; if so, the timeframe he has in mind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6274/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I assume the question refers to clawback provisions which apply as conditions of the sale of houses to first time buyers under the various affordable housing schemes at a significant discount from market value in order to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes.

Where a person is selling and the claw-back amount payable would reduce the proceeds of resale below the initial price actually paid, the legislation provides for the amount of the clawback payable to be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid that outcome. As announced in the Government's Housing Policy Statement published on 16 June 2011, all affordable housing schemes, including shared ownership, have been stood down in the context of a full review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. A request for tenders in respect of the review was published last week, and the review will commence as soon as possible.