JOHN LYONS TD BALLYMUN NEWS KEEPING IN TOUCH WANT TO BUY YOUR COUNCIL HOUSE? NOW YOU CAN! A new Tenant Purchase Scheme has been announced. The scheme will begin in January 2016. The Scheme will allow tenants in council houses to buy their home. Tenants will be entitled to a discount of between 40%-60% (depending on income level).
WHAT IS RECKONABLE INCOME?
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PURCHASE? A house may be sold only to its tenant (including joint tenants); The tenant must be living in the house for at least one year; The tenant must have a minimum income of at least €15,000 gross per year; A tenant is not entitled to purchase under the new scheme if he or she ■ Bought under a tenant scheme before ■ Has large arrears and has not agreed with the council to pay them off ■ Has or is engaged in anti-social behaviour (this also applies to household members).
HOW IS THE TENANT PURCHASE DISCOUNT CALCULATED? The discount given to a tenant purchaser depends on reckonable tenant income (e.g. joint incomes etc.), as follows: ■ A discount of 60% off the purchase price applies where reckonable tenant income is in the range €15,000 to €20,000; ■ A discount of 50% off the purchase price applies where reckonable tenant income is in the range €20,001 to €29,999; ■ A discount of 40% off the purchase price applies where reckonable income is equal to or greater than €30,000.
The full details of the scheme with examples can be found at – http://labr.ie/tenantpurchasescheme
Reckonable income is income earned from employment (before deduction of income tax, USC, PRSI etc.). Some social welfare payments may be included as reckonable income if they are not the main income (e.g. Social welfare payment to a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a tenant in employment). Payments from child benefit, carers allowance/benefit, FIS cannot be included.
HOW DOES THE TENANT PAY FOR THE HOME? The tenant can apply for a loan from the council. Funds from family members may be used towards the price of the house. The tenant does not need a deposit.
WHAT IS AN INCREMENTAL PURCHASE CHARGE? On the sale of a house under the scheme, the council will place an incremental purchase charge on the house. This means that if you sell the house before a certain amount of time, you must pay back some of the discount you received to the council. The length of the charge depends on the discount you receive. For example, if you receive a 50% discount, the charge lasts for 25 years. Each year, the charge reduces by 2% and disappears after 25 years.
John Lyons, your local TD.
/JohnLyonsDublinNorthWest
Contact me on 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie
@JohnLyonsTD
IMPROVING OUR COURTS
Improving Our Public Spaces Dublin City Council is working with residents in all parts of Ballymun to help improve their area. The joint team-work between local residents and DCC has helped give many of our estates a small makeover and has made a big difference. Some recent examples include residents in Doon and Knowth Court, Belclare, Whiteacre Park, Longdale, Woodhazel, Forestwood and Sallowood. The Ballymun council office now has a member of staff assigned to issues relating to the Public Domain. Issues which can be reported include illegal dumping, graffiti, broken footpaths and open spaces. Complaints can be logged by calling to the public counter or phoning 2225610.
Balcurris Park I am constantly contacting DCC/Gardaí about quad bikes in Balcurris Park. DCC have installed kissing gates on the footpath to the front of Ard Na Meala. This is to help stop bikes speeding up and down the footpath.
The council has been replacing broken/dangerous slabs in the courts. This is a welcome step. I will continue to push for further improvements in the courts as they are 40 years old and in desperate need of a makeover.
FINGERPRINTS Ballymun is full of talented young people and we should all be very proud. Some of our local young people have been taking script writing classes in the RECO. One lucky local young person, Siobhán Duffy, had her script made into a short movie. The movie is called FINGERPRINTS and was written John with producer Jonathan Ho at and filmed in Ballymun. It is the premiere of Fingerprints supported by a nationally and internationally acclaimed cast and crew. Recently, BRYR hosted the film premiere in the Axis. Also shown on the night was a short documentary on the making of the movie. The documentary was produced by another local talented rising star, Jonathan Ho.
FREE WIFI FOR BALLYMUN MAIN STREET The Ballymun Civic Alliance was set up at the end of BRL. The alliance is made up of DCC, local businesses, TDs, Cllrs, and local residents. Our main role is to ensure that Ballymun continues to develop. I am a member of the Economic sub-committee of the Ballymun Civic Alliance. We have been developing a plan to attract more businesses to the area and also support the businesses already in Ballymun. As part of this, free Wi-Fi has been installed on the Plaza, Main Street. The Wi-Fi should be live from December. The council are also looking at ways to improve the open space at the Plaza and make it more user-friendly.
John Lyons TD @JohnLyonsTD /JohnLyonsDublinNorthWest
Cllr Áine Clancy DCC
Cllr Andrew Montague DCC
087 7635406 aine.clancy1@gmail.com
087 908 0409 andrewmontague@eircom.net
Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 618 3280 Email: john.lyons@oireachtas.ie Web: www.johnlyons.ie
0612
Working with your local Labour Team