Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being faced by those engaged in the now discontinued shared ownership scheme; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that countless families across County Tipperary and indeed the country who engaged in this scheme are facing significant financial difficulty due to the fact that the rent on the council owned portion of their home has increased exponentially; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result they are making little progress in the purchase of their home; if he will amend the Housing Act 2009 to resolve this issue; if he will consider allowing these persons to convert to a loan on their full property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24757/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Government’s 2011 housing policy statement announced the standing down of all affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, as part of the review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.

That review is now almost concluded and I have also asked the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to provide me with a standalone analysis of the shared ownership scheme, including identification of the main difficulties and recommendations for mitigating measures.

Any future changes to legislation governing affordable housing schemes, including the shared ownership scheme, will be made in the context of both pieces of work and I expect to make announcements in this regard in the coming months.