Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
577. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the circumstances under which a tenant in a home provided by an approved housing body can buy that home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51795/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra578. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the circumstances under which a tenant in a home provided by a local authority can buy that home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51796/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications made under the tenant purchase scheme in Cork city since 2022; the number which have been approved; and the number which remain pending. [51982/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 577, 578 and 585 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 came into operation on 1 January 2016 and allows tenants of local authority houses to apply to purchase their home. The scheme is governed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended, and is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.
In order to be eligible to purchase a house under the Scheme, tenants must have a reckonable annual income of €11,000 and have been in receipt of social housing supports for at least 10 years, as determined by the local authority in accordance with the rules of the scheme. Social housing supports include HAP, RAS or 10 years tenancy of a local authority dwelling, or a combination of these supports. In the case of joint applications, only one tenant is required to have been in receipt of social housing supports for a period of 10 years.
The method for determining a purchase price is set out in the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The Act also includes provision for a housing authority to take into consideration any material improvements made to the house by tenants, where written permission has been obtained in advance of these material improvements taking place. Prior written consent is not required for minor improvements, such as decorating.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. The operation of and any decisions made in respect of the Scheme are, therefore, entirely a matter for the local authority concerned and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.
Further information regarding the criteria under which a local authority tenant may purchase their home may be found on my Department's website: gov.ie - Incremental Tenant Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses .
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme only provides for the purchase of local authority properties and does 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 the local authority schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, as set out above, consideration cannot be given to extending the schemes to tenants residing in properties owned by AHBs.
Statistical information regarding the number of homes sold under the scheme until the end of 2024, broken down by local authority area, including the Cork City Council area, is available from my Department’s website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#sale-of-local-authority-houses
