Questions

298. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will advise whether a review of the help to buy scheme is currently planned; whether consideration is being given to revising the eligibility criteria, particularly the requirement that applicants obtain a mortgage at or above a specified percentage of the property's value; and whether consideration has been given to the difficulties this requ…

790. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether his Department is undertaking, or plans to undertake, a review of the help to buy scheme; whether consideration is being given to reducing or amending the minimum loan-to-value mortgage requirement for eligibility under the scheme to assist first-time buyers and self-build applicants who are unable to secure borrowing at the current threshol…

797. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether a review of the help-to-buy scheme is currently planned; whether consideration is being given to revising the eligibility criteria, particularly the requirement that applicants obtain a mortgage at or above a specified percentage of the property's value; whether consideration has been given to the difficulties this requirement creates for lo…

481. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for limiting eligibility under the Fresh Start provision of the local authority purchase and renovation loan (LAPRL) scheme to applicants who have lost ownership of a previous home due to relationship breakdown, insolvency, or bankruptcy. [49220/26]

482. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the provision does not extend to applicants who were required to sell or leave a previous home due to it no longer being suitable for a family member with a disability or additional needs who plan to obtain a derelict home but do not have the funds to start the work and refused mortgages through the bank as one parent is…

483. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is he aware of concerns that this may represent an unintended gap in the scheme, adversely affecting families with genuine housing need arising from disability-related circumstances (details supplied) [49222/26]

484. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reviewing or amending the eligibility criteria to ensure that such families are not excluded from accessing the scheme on this basis of disability or additional needs (details supplied) [49223/26]

300. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties purchased by Clare County Council under tenant-in-situ or other acquisition schemes in west Clare, including Kilkee, in the past two years; and whether additional funding will be provided to increase such acquisitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23179/26]

155. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the exact date by which the new vacant above the shop grant will be operational; when local authorities will begin accepting applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22909/26]

156. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when updated guidance, circulars and operational instructions will issue to local authorities regarding the administration of the vacant above the shop grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22910/26]

157. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he will consider extending the vacant above the shop grant to include conversion or refurbishment of vacant rear-of-property or back-of-site areas, where such spaces are structurally connected to commercial premises but not physically located above the shop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22911/26]

158. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify whether properties that include both above-the-shop areas and rear can qualify for full grant support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22912/26]

159. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual uptake targets he has set for the vacant above the shop grant; the way in which progress will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22913/26]

1100. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the eligibility rules for State supported home purchase schemes in respect of applicants over seventy years of age; the policy rationale for age based exclusions where applicants are working and in good health; whether an equality impact assessment has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/26]

1103. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will review eligibility criteria, including age limits, for State backed purchase supports with a view to accommodating mixed age households where one applicant is over seventy years of age but both applicants are working and creditworthy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/26]

198. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rent limits have not been increased since July 2016, despite significant rises in market rents during that period; the rationale for maintaining these limits at 2016 levels; his views on an organisation’s (details supplied) confirmation that the HAP limits were last reviewed in July 2…

547. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of persons who applied for the local authority purchase and renovation loan in each local authority in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [25442/25]

548. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of people who availed of the first home scheme in each of the past five years, by county in tabular form (details supplied). [25443/25]

599. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are plans to provide a timeline for when local authority homes can avail of the pyrite scheme, considering the urgency of the situation for those living in such houses; if he would address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16626/25]

343. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Finance the total number of persons who have applied for the help-to-buy scheme in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1614/25]

344. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Finance the total number of persons who have successfully availed of the help-to-buy scheme in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1615/25]

345. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Finance the total number of rejected applications for the help-to-buy scheme in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1616/25]

792. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of housing units delivered under the affordable purchase scheme in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1609/25]

793. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of persons who availed of the first home scheme in each county in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1610/25]

794. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of persons who have applied for the local authority purchase and renovation loan in each local authority in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [1611/25]