Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

This legislation places considerable demands on housing authorities in terms of strategic planning through the development of housing service plans and housing action programmes. The making of rent and allocation schemes, statutory requirements on anti-social behaviour strategies and homelessness action plans and new purchase schemes in the form of incremental purchase, tenant purchase of apartments and affordable dwelling purchase arrangements. I am making statutory provision for these and other areas because they will provide a modern and efficient framework to assist housing authorities in meeting their housing responsibilities. However, I recognise that their implementation will be onerous. I do not propose to accept the amendment No. 15a proposed by the Deputy which would add unnecessarily to the workload without any obvious benefit. I am satisfied with the review provisions set out in section 17 which will provide sufficient flexibility in this area which the Deputy wishes to delete by way of an amendment No. 26a. I ask that both amendments be withdrawn.

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