Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 July 2010

 

Social and Affordable Housing

9:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

It is interesting that when the Minister announced this programme in the Chamber two years ago, he said he would spend €20 million per annum and with that would acquire 2,000 properties in the private sector. The figures the Minister has given this evening are well off those targets. At that time he was also adamant that there would be no option to buy as part of the package. Why has he been unable to fulfil the target of 2,000? Leaving aside the fact that I consider this to be bad social housing policy, these were his targets and he does not appear to have reached them. Could he also explain the change in his position with regard to the option of a purchase being facilitated? Can he explain how that purchase is put aside? Is it the situation that pertains with most long-term leases, where there is what is called a peppercorn purchase, which is a very small sum of money at the end of the lease, or is it a more proportional sum?

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