Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Notwithstanding the fact that we have a housing crisis and great difficulty in providing the units for those on the housing list, as alluded to by the previous speaker and many others on several occasions, there are ways, means and methods to provide units in the coming years. These include implementing the recommendations of the all-party special housing committee, the Minister of State's strategy, and the use of on- and off- balance-sheet funding. I have always believed, however, that those in long-term tenancies should, like anybody else in this country, have the right at least to aspire to own their own homes, hence the need for tenant purchase schemes. There was one announced by the previous Government towards the end of its lifetime but, unfortunately, it did not deal with the potential for people in Part V accommodation to purchase their units. We will produce a Bill on this issue in the coming days which I hope the Minister of State will support but there are other issues regarding social welfare recipients, age barriers and the commitment regarding the funds raised by local authorities to be retained by them for use in their local authority areas.

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