Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is my first opportunity to welcome the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. As I said on the Order of Business, he is one of four former Members of the last Seanad and we hope to have some influence on him in his decision-making. I hope he will not let us down. It is good to see four former colleagues as senior Ministers and I wish them well. The amendment proposes the following:

In page 48, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:Amendment of section 44 of the Act of 2009

35.Section 44 of the Act of 2009 is amended by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1):
“(1A) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply in circumstances where a local authority and an approved body agrees that to dispose of a dwelling to a tenant that was constructed prior to the enactment of this Act would be in the best interests of—

(a) the tenant, and/or
(b) the local community in which the particular dwelling is situated.

(1B) The proceeds of sale of any disposal under subsection (1A) shall be ring-fenced for the purposes of—

(a) provision of additional housing by approved bodies in the local authority area in which the particular dwelling is situated, and
(b) to upgrade existing housing stock in the local authority area in which the particular dwelling is situated.”.

I would like to hear what the Minister has to say.