Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 21:

In page 72, after line 31, to insert the following:"Transferral of tenancy within social housing

59.Within 6 months of the commencement of this Bill the Minister with approval of the Oireachtas Committee will publish guidelines for housing authorities to implement a tenancy transfer system for all tenants within the social housing system.".

The amendment brings us back to the issue of the HAP. It seeks to provide that within six months of the commencement of the legislation, the Minister would publish with the approval of the joint committee guidelines for housing authorities to implement a tenancy transfer system for all tenants within the social housing system. The issue of removal from waiting and transfer lists has been a bone of contention and discussed in great detail in the context of the legislation here and in the other House on all Stages. The thrust of ministerial responses around the HAP and removing tenants from waiting lists is that they can transfer. If so, there should be transfer lists in all local authorities. This is not provided for in legislation, but it should be. We cannot accept a provision which removes people from a list on the premise that they will be provided for in a local authority policy as opposed to legislation. The amendment of itself does not seek to define a transfer scheme. The Minister's guidelines could provide local authorities with a great deal of discretion. If we are to protect the rights of tenants which is critical, we must ensure a transfer list is put in place for them.