Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

281. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1635 of 26 July 2017, the position regarding the review of the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41037/17]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of the new tenant purchase scheme will be finalised; the changes which are proposed as a result of this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41164/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 286 together.

The new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses 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.  To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum, have been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year and have been allocated a house under a local authority allocation scheme.

In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.

The review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations has been prepared.  Following consultation with relevant Departments on implementation arrangements, I expect that definitive proposals will be submitted to me very shortly.