Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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505. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason recipients of the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, set at the same rate as the State pension (contributory) is not allowable as income to qualify for the tenant purchase scheme when this is a long-term payment where the State pension (non-contributory) pension, which can fluctuate, is a qualifying payment; if he will consider adding the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension as a qualifying payment, similar to the State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13866/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants, or joint tenants, of local authority homes available for sale under the scheme.

To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a minimum annual reckonable income of €12,500. The minimum income requirement has a dual purpose. It ensures the scheme is sustainable and the tenant purchasing the house has the financial means to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period.

For these reasons, certain income is not considered when determining an applicant's reckonable income. This includes the Widow's, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension which is currently below the minimum income threshold.

The Tenant Purchase Scheme was reviewed in 2021, with a number of amendments implemented from 1 February 2022. These included reducing the minimum reckonable income required from €15,000 to €12,500, facilitating older tenants, whose only income might be the contributory or non-contributory State pension, to buy their homes if they have the financial means to do so.

Further changes to the scheme are currently being examined as part of the work on the broader social housing reform agenda.