Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will bring forward legislation to ensure that persons on social welfare will not be discriminated against if they wish to purchase their local authority home, as currently is the case, especially in cases in which the monthly mortgage repayment is not significantly higher than the rent being charged under the differential rent. [14068/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 462 of 31 January 2012, which outlines the position in this matter. However, the relevance of the difference between projected mortgage repayments and current rental payments for a prospective purchaser is limited. It takes no account, for example, of the fact that while rent levels can be adjusted to reflect changing household income, mortgage repayments cannot. Nor does it take account of the additional costs taken on when a household becomes a homeowner thereby assuming responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of their home.