Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

It is an interesting debate and it is a pity the matter has not been teased out more. However, I did not attend Committee Stage for which I apologise.

There is no recognition in what has been presented thus far of the length of time for which the individuals in question have requested purchase. They have been discriminated against from the time they expressed an interest to the council and they were blocked because the system was not in place to allow them to purchase a local authority dwelling. I use the term "dwelling" rather than home.

I refer to the 40% and 60% discounts to which the Minister of State mentioned. I understand the Minister of State has suggested the commitment is that from a given day, those who applied on that day will only receive 40% while those who previously applied would benefit in the order of 60%. That, at least, is a recognition of what we seek, that is, a recognition from the State and the local authority that those who applied prior to a given date would benefit from such an application or, at least, have been recognised. If that is not the intention of the 40% and 60% discounts then a percentage must be applied above that amount. That is the only fair and reasonable way of dealing with the anomaly created which has prevented people from purchasing local authority apartments to date.

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