Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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276. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the new tenant incremental purchase scheme will be opened to new applications; the reason for the delay in finalising this scheme, which was announced in January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48115/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021 in line with Programme for Government and Housing for All commitments, with a number of changes subsequently coming into effect from 1 February 2022. The minimum reckonable income required to be eligible under the scheme changed from €15,000 to €12,500. The time tenants are required to be in receipt of social housing supports to be able to apply under the scheme has also been revised. This has been increased from one to ten years. Applications received by local authorities prior to 1 February 2022 should be assessed per the regulations and requirements in place at the time, with applications received thereafter assessed in accordance with the new requirements. While local authorities were formally advised of these changes by Department Circular on 12 January 2022, revised scheme guidelines, and a Ministerial Order giving effect to changes in the treatment of the State contributory and non-contributory pensions for reckonable income purposes issued to all local authorities on the 29 September 2022.