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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 14, 2022

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive what discussions he has had with regard to the announced plans for a new Tenant Purchase Scheme for pensioners; has he made plans in the matter and will he make a statement? 

REPLY:

The Council was very recently advised by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 amend the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 that took effect from 1st February 2022.  The changes in the Regulations are as follows:

• Minimum income requirements: The minimum income to be eligible under the scheme has been revised from €15,000 p.a. to €12,500 p.a. to ensure persons whose pension is their primary source of income can now apply under the scheme.
• Time receiving social housing supports: The period of time tenants required to be in receipt of social housing support to be eligible under the scheme has changed from one to 10 years.  For joint tenancies, both tenants must be in receipt of social housing support for at least 10 years before being eligible to apply.

It is understood that the reduction in the minimum income requirements will facilitate eligibility under the scheme for persons in receipt of the full contributory state pension.