New schemes aim to assist people in buying houses

New opportunities for people to buy their own homes have been outlined by Minister of State for Housing Noel Ahern.

The new opportunities include an incremental purchase scheme for those whose income is insufficient to participate in affordable housing schemes.

They also include the sale of council flats, an action which has been advocated by Dublin City Council for a number of years.

Under a third scheme, the Government is to advertise next week for purchasers of 500 new homes which the Affordable Homes Partnership (AHP) "bulk" bought from developers in the Dublin area in recent months.

Discounts of up to 30 per cent achieved by the AHP are to be passed on to successful applicants.

Announcing the new proposals yesterday, Mr Ahern said targeted support would be given to those with special housing needs.

A new mobility aids grant scheme would provide 100 per cent funding to address mobility problems primarily associated with ageing. It would be available for households with an income of up to €30,000.

Guidance on urban planning and design is to be provided to local authorities, alongside a €2 billion fund for the renewal of local authority estates.

A sustainable communities fund is also to be set up.

Mr Ahern said the new "use-it- or-lose-it scheme" would ensure that development land would be used in an efficient manner.

Legislation for the sale of council flats is awaiting debate in the Oireachtas and further legislation will be required to give effect to the incremental purchase scheme.

However, at the launch yesterday, Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said a number of pilot incremental purchase schemes could be started in advance of legislation.

Explaining the incremental purchase scheme, Mr Ahern said it was designed to broaden home ownership in lower-income groups. Under the scheme, applicants for social housing could opt to purchase an initial equity stake which might be as low as 20 per cent. The remainder would be purchased over an agreed period in predetermined instalments.

Mr Ahern said it represented an attractive scheme for people who could not afford the larger cost of a home in the affordable homes scheme.