Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a final response to a query that was sent to his office in August 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32880/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme and applies to all existing local authority houses, other than those classes of houses excluded under legislation. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria which are set out in the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 handbook, which is available online () or from individual local authorities.

The issue of transferring between different local authority properties or transferring between different local authority areas, if this is applicable, is a matter solely for the authorities concerned in accordance with their respective allocation schemes. Decisions on the allocation of tenancies are a matter for the individual local authority and I am precluded by housing legislation from intervening in individual housing cases. However, I understand that in terms of Cork County Council, mutual transfer applicants, including transfers between tenants of different local authorities, voluntary housing developments, leased units etc., are considered on their merits.

A formal response to the Deputy’s representation setting out the relevant options will issue from my Department shortly.