Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to outline in full detail the reason for the exclusion of those on carer’s allowance from availing of the tenant purchase scheme; if his Department has any plans to change this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66823/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme provides for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority houses which are available for sale under the scheme. All applications for the Scheme must satisfy the requirements outlined in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the associated Regulations.

In order to be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria, including minimum primary annual reckonable income of €11,000. In determining a tenant’s minimum annual reckonable income, local authorities can include incomes from employment, private pensions, the State pension, Widow's, Widower's, Surviving Civil Partner's Pension, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, and certain social protection payments, where the social protection payment is secondary to income from employment or a pension/allowance. However, other social protection payments including Carer's Allowance, which are considered shorter term in nature, are not considered when determining an applicant's annual reckonable income.

The minimum annual reckonable 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, which may be 20, 25 or 30 years.

The Scheme is monitored on an ongoing basis by my Department to ensure that it remains effective and sustainable. However, there are currently no plans for Carer’s Allowance to be added as a form of reckonable income for the purposes of determining eligibility for the Scheme.