Mr. Michael Layde:

Regarding RAS, deliberate evictions cannot be countenanced. There are protections in law for people in the private rental sector. Any violation of same can be dealt with in the appropriate way. We would be concerned if there were evidence to suggest that people were being evicted in some covert way or compelled to leave properties other than strictly in accordance with the law. The legal obligations are clear. We would want to know of any instances of such evictions, as they should not happen. This is not to say that there are not circumstances in which landlords are lawfully exiting RAS or even the private rental sector. For example, they may be selling their properties for other purposes or occupying them themselves.

Senator Keane raised the historical issues with the shared ownership scheme. They must be unravelled before we can consider embarking on the scheme again. The approach to affordability at the time of the nascent housing bubble was one thing, but we are in a different situation now.

There are options for people to purchase their homes, including, for example, the home choice loan scheme which is available to those on low incomes who could support a mortgage. The housing Bill progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas provides for an income rental purchase scheme for those currently in local authority houses. There is in place a scheme for persons in local authority apartments, flats or new local authority houses.

On ineffective disposal of land and necessary approvals and so on, it is ultimately a matter for elected members. Obviously, we would expect to achieve value for money. On the local authority land bank and lands held by the housing agencies, our objective is to ensure value for money is achieved and that these lands are used in a socially beneficial manner. Many of them were originally acquired for social housing purposes and we would like to see them used in the future in a socially beneficial way. There is a considerable amount of such land available. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the local authorities as owners or, where the lands have been transferred, the housing agencies.