Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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436. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if local authority approval is required under the tenant incremental purchase scheme if a person wishes to rent a room in their home; the reason a person must use a valuer from a panel of valuers set up by the local authority and not one of a person's own choosing; if the person purchasing the house passes away within the lien time according to their allowed discount if the lien is passed on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19302/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 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. 

Section 25 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 lists the terms and conditions of the sale of a house to a tenant under the 2016 Scheme. These conditions include that the house or any part of it shall not, without the prior written consent of the authority be sold, assigned, let or sublet.

Given the significant value of State assets being sold under the scheme, there is a clear obligation on a local authority to ensure that valuations provided for purposes of the Scheme are carried out by suitably qualified valuers, with the necessary qualifications and experience. In accordance with guidance issued by my Department, authorities should provide potential applicants with a list of approved valuers so that they can choose their own valuer from the list. 

If a purchaser passes away within the charge period, the charge remains on the property until such time as it is discharged in line with the relevant provisions of the 2014 Act and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015.