Dublin City Council (DCC) is now inviting applications from persons interested in being considered as purchasers of affordable homes in private residential developments, through part 5 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2002.

DCC has established a scheme, which is primarily aimed at first time buyers, but certain limited exceptions may apply. The closing date for completed application forms for the initial list is 4pm on Friday 20th of August 2004.

DCC will compile and regularly update a list of all eligible applicants for part five affordable housing. There are a number of apartment blocks under construction or which have received planning permission to build in the Dublin 2 and 4 area. If you are interested in these homes and you feel you meet the criteria set down by DCC, phone Lo-call 1850 946506 and register your interest.

Another scheme, which DCC administers, covers newly constructed houses and apartments in areas where prices have created an affordable gap for lower income house purchasers. These properties are sold to eligible purchasers at prices less than actual value. These are available to first-time buyers only.

These units are usually built on land banks owned or acquired by DCC. Examples of these houses are those built in areas such as Ballyfermot and also under the Ballymun regeneration programme. There are also a number of new schemes under consideration and DCC will advertise these schemes in the daily papers when they become available.

In parts of Dublin postal areas 1, 2, 3 and 4, known as the Docklands area, another form of affordable housing is also available. These housing units will be available under the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) section 25 Planning.

The DDDA master plan provides for the development of a minimum of 20% social and affordable units. These homes will be developed over the coming years. These units are available in the developments that have received planning permission under section 25.

The loan scheme for the purchase of these units is administered by DCC and the purchaser must meet the DCC criteria for loan approval as well as the DDDA criteria, which is aimed at favouring locals from the Docklands area.

The criteria for allocating these homes is based on a point system which it is hoped will positively discriminate in favour of local applicants. Points are allocated to those who were born, live and work in the Docklands area.

Those interested in purchasing these homes need to express their interest to the DDDA by contacting the Housing Development Manager Una Merriman at 8183300.

Some of the criteria required by DCC for loan approval are that the purchaser must be in permanent employment for at least one year prior to application and their income on their current P60 form must be within the limits to meet the loan approval.

Minister of State Mr Noel Ahern announced an improvement to the loan and income limit for shared ownership and affordable housing in July. The maximum loan advanced for local authority house purchase was €130,000 and it has been raised to €165,000.

The eligibility limit for applying for affordable housing and shared ownership schemes has also been reviewed. A single person can now earn up to €36,800 and €92,000 for a two-income household.

The period that DCC can advance loans for is now up to thirty years. Previously the maximum length for the repayment of a loan was 25 years.