John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State should seriously consider this issue because people are on the list for two or three years and may never have repairs carried out. We may have to allocate new houses because of the substandard condition of housing.

In recent weeks I submitted a parliamentary question on the need for a new tenant purchase scheme. Tenant purchase schemes have ceased, the last of which ceased in December 2012. A number of people want to buy their homes and are awaiting a new tenant purchase scheme to be put in place. It is important to examine and implement such a scheme as quickly as possible. In his reply to the question the Minister said the Department was considering a new scheme, but I am not sure when a date will be signalled for its introduction. It is important to allow people to continue to purchase their homes. Most people in Ireland want to own their home and it also means they are removed from council lists. In the long term it will save councils money if we encourage people to purchase houses. In 1979 the half-price purchase scheme was introduced by the then Minister, Pádraig Flynn who was far-seeing.

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