S.I. No. 152/1998:

HOUSING REGULATIONS, 1980, (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1998

HOUSING REGULATIONS, 1980, (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1998

In exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government by section 5 of the Housing Act, 1966 (No. 21 of 1966), as amended by section 24 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 (No. 18 of 1992), and by section 11 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 , which powers are delegated to me by the Environment and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 427 of 1997 ), I, Robert Molloy, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, hereby make the following Regulations:--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Housing Regulations, 1980 (Amendment) Regulations, 1998.

2. In these Regulations--

"the Regulations of 1980" means the Housing Regulations, 1980 ( S.I. No. 296 of 1980 );

"the Regulations of 1982" means the Housing Regulations, 1980 (Amendment) Regulations, 1982 ( S.I. No. 177 of 1982 );

"the Regulations of 1985" means the Housing Regulations, 1980 (Amendment) Regulations, 1985 ( S.I. No. 223 of 1985 );

"the Regulations of 1986" means the Housing Regulations, 1980 (Amendment) Regulations, 1986 ( S.I. No. 386 of 1986 );

"the Regulations of 1996" means the Housing Regulations, 1980 (Amendment) Regulations, 1996 ( S.I. No. 148 of 1996 ).

3. Article 31 of the Regulations of 1980 (as substituted by the Regulations of 1982 and amended by the Regulations of 1996) is hereby further amended by:

(a) the substitution for "1995." in Column 2 of the Table to the article at Reference Number 8 of the following:

"1995, and before the 13th day of November, 1997."; and

(b) the addition to the Table to the article of the following:

4. Article 32A of the Regulations of 1980 (as inserted by the Regulations of 1996) is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-article (1) of the following:

"(1) A loan shall not be made by a housing authority for the construction or acquisition of a house unless the application of the income eligibility formula by the authority results in an amount not in excess of:

(a) £35,000 in any case where the foundations of the house being constructed were completed or the contract for the acquisition of the house was made, on or after the 1st day of May, 1995, and before the 13th day of November, 1997; or

(b) £37,500 in any case where the foundations of the house being constructed were completed or the contract for the acquisition of the house was made, on or after the 13th day of November, 1997.".

5. Article 51 of the Regulations of 1980 (as substituted by the Regulations of 1985 and amended by the Regulations of 1996) is hereby further amended by:

(a) the substitution for "1995." in Column 2 of the Table to the article at Reference Number 7 of the following:

"1995, and before the 13th day of November, 1997."; and

(b) the addition to the Table to the article of the following:

6. Article 52 of the Regulations of 1980 (as substituted by the Regulations of 1986 and amended by the Regulations of 1996) is hereby further amended by:

(a) the substitution for "1995." in Column 2 of the Table to the article at Reference Number 5 of the following:

"1995, and before the 13th day of November, 1997."; and

(b) the addition to the Table to the article of the following:

7. Article 53A of the Regulations of 1980 (as inserted by the Regulations of 1996) is hereby amended by the substitution for sub-article (1) of the following:

"(1) A loan shall not be made by a housing authority for the carrying out of improvement works to a house unless the application of the income eligibility formula by the authority results in an amount not in excess of:

(a) £35,000 in any case where the improvement works commenced on or after the 1st day of May, 1995, and before the 13th day of November, 1997, or

(b) £37,500 in any case where the improvement works commenced on or after the 13th day of November, 1997.".

Dated this 22nd day of April, 1998.

ROBERT MOLLOY,

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

The Minister for Finance hereby consents to the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Finance this 1st day of May, 1998.

CHARLIE McCREEVY,

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations provide for increases in income eligibility limits for, and the amount of, loans by local authorities for the purchase, construction or improvement of houses.