Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he proposes to amend the tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46331/21]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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175. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when it is planned to publish new regulations for the tenant purchase scheme as outlined in Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46389/21]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if amendments will be made to the tenant purchase scheme as detailed in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46378/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155, 175 and 349 together.

The 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. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.

The Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015 governing the Scheme provides for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group Traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living.

The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V homes are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that homes delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains very important in promoting social integration.

A review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation has been undertaken. In addition, Housing for All, A New Housing Plan for Ireland, commits to maintain the right of social housing tenants to purchase their own home with some changes to eligibility. The review and the commitments Housing for All are being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda. I expect to be in a position to finalise changes to the Scheme once the work on these reform measures is complete.