1700. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will review the regulations governing the purchase of social housing local authority homes so that it will require tenants to wait 30 years before becoming eligible to purchase their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59850/26]

There are currently three different tenant purchase schemes available to eligible local authority tenants.

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is open to eligible tenants of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. At present, a tenant must have been in receipt of social housing support for a period of ten years prior to becoming eligible for the scheme. Social housing support includes HAP, RAS, ten years tenancy of a local authority dwelling, or a combination of these supports. In the case of joint tenancies, one tenant must fulfil this ten year requirement.

On commencement of the scheme on 1 January 2016, the original qualification period prior to becoming eligible to purchase a house was one year in receipt of social housing support. This was subsequently increased to ten years in amended regulations from 1 February 2022.

The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for New Build Local Authority Houses 2010 is open to both existing tenants and households on a local authority’s waiting list and there is no specific period of time a tenant must have been in receipt of social housing supports an existing tenant prior to becoming eligible for this scheme. The scheme supports existing low-income tenants and assists prospective local authority tenants to make a start on the route to home ownership.

Under the Tenant Purchase of Apartments Scheme 2012, a tenant must be living in the local authority apartment for a minimum period of one year before applying to purchase the apartment, provided the apartment complex has been designated under the scheme.

My Department monitors these schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, at this time, there are no plans to extend the period of time a social housing tenant must have been in receipt of social housing support prior to becoming eligible to purchase a house under these schemes.