Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
479. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to review the current tenant purchase scheme to allow council-owned housing secured under the Part V agreements and or AHB properties to be sold as part of any future tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35760/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase by eligible tenants of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications for the schemes must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation.
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.
Furthermore, the schemes provide only for the purchase of local authority properties and do not extend to properties owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). AHBs (also called housing associations or voluntary housing associations) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. Any sale of an AHB property must be in compliance with their Memorandum and Articles of Association and it is also advisable for the AHB to consult with the Charities Regulator in this regard if it is a registered charity. However, as not-for-profit bodies, AHBs are limited in their ability to sell any property on the open market at a value which is less than the market value of the property.
My Department monitors schemes such as these on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable, however, there are no plans to amend the schemes at this time.
