Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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616. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the incremental purchase scheme revised arrangements will be in place in order that councils can process applications, as in the case of a council (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19474/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Tenant Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum reckonable income and minimum time in receipt of social housing supports, to be eligible.

The Government has recently reduced the minimum reckonable income required under the scheme from €15,000 to €12,500. Similarly, the length of time an applicant must be in receipt of social housing supports to qualify under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years.  These changes came into effect on 1 February 2022.

Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed with reference to the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received after 1 February 2022 assessed in accordance with the new requirements.

Local authorities have been formally advised of the key changes and revised guidance will issue shortly.