Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2026
479. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason Part V housing tenants are precluded from purchasing the houses they are renting but could have the option to do so in 100% council estates; whether he acknowledges the inequity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49191/26]
View answerThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is underpinned by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended by the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
The regulations provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including those provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Part V provisions seek to promote social integration and secure mixed tenure, sustainable communities. Accordingly, Part V properties are excluded from the scheme to ensure the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time and the properties remain available for people in need of social housing support.
Several other classes of house are excluded from sale within the regulations underpinning the scheme, including, for example, houses specifically designed for occupation by older people, group traveller housing and houses provided for persons with disabilities moving from congregated settings to community based living.
Local authorities may also, within the terms of the scheme, exclude houses or groups of houses from sale in the interest of proper and effective management of the local authority’s stock of social housing. In this regard, the final decision in respect of any sale rests with the local authority considering the application.
It is considered that the scheme strikes a balance between increasing the scope for those in receipt of long-term housing support to purchase their local authority home, whilst ensuring the continued sustainability of the Scheme by not unduly diminishing local authority housing stock.
My Department monitors schemes such as this on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable, however, there are no plans to amend this aspect of the scheme at this time.
