Dáil debates

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Finance Bill 2011: Committee Stage

 

5:00 pm

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

The former Minister of State, Deputy Finneran, made an announcement that the tenant purchase scheme would now be adapted and that there would be a 45% discount for people who had been social housing tenants for 15 years and over. I believe that is what is being referred to in the section there. The former Minister of State also gave the impression that this would be enacted on 1 January and that local authorities would be able to roll that out. Given that we are debating it in the House this evening, it is clear that local authorities are not in a position to do that currently. Could the Minister of State indicate as to when social housing tenants will be able to avail of the 45% discount?

With regard to something the Labour Party has been consistently calling for over a number of years, the housing price database, this is necessary because it is the only way that accurate housing information and prices can be given. It would give confidence to people buying homes to ensure that the prices they pay are reflective of true market value in their estates, and this resonates into social housing situations, as Deputy Hayes has indicated. The core principle, if we are to introduce normalisation into the housing market, is to have an accurate house register database. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State indicated this in his speech this evening. Once again, is there a timeline as to when this will be in place?

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