Fine Gael is calling for a new Incremental Purchase Scheme to be extended to include residents living in homes that have been acquired by the council.

The new scheme will allow social housing tenants to buy their first home, however it does not include people who are in houses acquired by the council as part of the Part V social and affordable scheme.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, said he will be raising the issue with the Department of the Environment and Wicklow County Council.

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He said: "The Incremental Purchase Scheme will allow social housing tenants to purchase their homes from Wicklow County Council at a discount of 60%, 50% or 40% and an incremental charge on the house equivalent to the discount.

"Social housing applicants/tenants who are in employment and earning a minimum income of €15,000 per annum are eligible to apply for the Scheme. This is an extremely positive scheme that will help people in social housing to get on the property ladder and purchase their homes.

"As it stands people who are living in homes acquired by the council, but which are not technically social housing are not included in this scheme. If these tenants have the finance in place and are in a position to purchase, I believe that they too should have the opportunity to buy their home."

(CD/JP)