The Housing Minister has been urgently called to publish a report on the Tenant Purchase Scheme, after it was revealed that people are being prevented from entering the scheme despite being able to buy their homes.

The scheme, which was reintroduced in 2016, allows for council tenants to enter into an agreement with their local authority to purchase their home.

Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal Charlie McConalogue said Minister Eoghan Murphy has not given any solid reason as to why it has not been published.

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Deputy McConalogue said: "The re-introduction of the Tenant Purchase Scheme was a welcome move by the government however it quickly became clear the criteria were much too rigid. At the time the then Housing Minister Simon Coveney committed to reviewing the qualifying conditions after one year.

"Submissions opened at the beginning of 2017, and I lodged a submission on behalf of a number of constituents who were denied access to the scheme as their main income was a social welfare payment.

"The majority of these applicants are old age pensioners who very much want to own their own home. They were barred from the scheme despite the fact they had amassed lifelong savings to support the purchase of their home or indeed, had demonstrated that they had the support of family members to help assist them with the purchase.

"This report needs to be published as soon as possible."

(CD/MH)