Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no legislation but the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, announced a few weeks ago at the housing summit at the Customs House a policy change to do exactly as outlined. Instead of purchasing houses, local authorities have been asked to build them. Eight hundred houses that were to be purchased next year will now be built by local authorities instead. That is not to say the local authorities will never buy houses in private estates again. Sometimes it is appropriate that they do so, to ensure there is a social mix and particularly if a house is derelict or has been abandoned. Louth County Council, in particular, has been very progressive in using its CPO powers to purchase private houses and turn them into public housing. In general, however, the policy shift is away from local authorities bidding against young couples trying to buy a house in favour of building them instead. That announcement was made by the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, at the Customs House a couple of weeks ago.

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