Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is deliberately trying to skew what I am saying. Of course we want estates to have 20% social housing and people to be given the option to buy. Only a limited number of people would be able to buy Part V units because most could not afford them. Offering a house for sale to someone who has only occupied it for a year and who has an income of €15,000 will cause problems. That person will not have the money to may repayments on the purchase or to maintain the house. The Government is creating a problem in that regard. Furthermore, the quick sale of houses will diminish the social housing stock.

The old scheme operated over a ten year cycle and the Minister of State's predecessor improved on that by extending the cycle to 15 years, with a 1% discount per year. That was a more progressive scheme. Sinn Féin is in favour of a tenant purchase scheme but it must be progressive. The problem with the new scheme is that it incentivises a quick sale and does not encourage long-term, stable tenancies. The incentive for long-term tenancy has been removed. Furthermore, units will be sold to people who may not be able to afford to make the repayments or maintain their houses.

I am not picking an argument with the Minister of State. I am trying to be constructive because I see a problem down the line. What is more, Fine Gael councillors in my own county and the two neighbouring counties are not happy with the new scheme either.

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