Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

There were a number of attempts over the years to put such legislation in place but they all faltered. On 1 October 2008 on Second Stage of the Bill in the Seanad, I indicated I would bring forward an amendment on Committee Stage in the Dáil to make provision for such. On 5 March 2009, I put that on the record of the Dáil on Second Stage. I was as good as my word on Committee Stage on 9 June, only a few weeks ago, when I came forward with such an amendment following many months of involvement with the Attorney General. The Bill gives, for the first time in the history of the State, the right to people living in apartments and flats to purchase them.

I do not propose to accept the amendment. It seeks to give existing tenants the option of securing discounts under the new incremental purchase scheme based on the length of tenancy. Tenancy related discounts are a feature of the existing tenant purchase scheme for houses. However, under the new incremental purchase arrangement the discount is based, within limits, on the financial circumstances of the households. This is a far more equitable way of tailoring the discount to the needs of individual applicants. Members should appreciate what is involved. The specific terms and conditions of sale to tenants, including the discounts available which will be more generous than those on offer under the existing tenant purchase scheme for local authority houses, will be determined through regulations rather than through primary legislation.

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