Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Through the Chair, this is not oral questions. We are dealing with important legislation here. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, we can go down the road of me answering questions on every aspect of housing policy. Just to be fair to Deputy Healy-Rae on this, in respect of tenant purchase schemes through local authorities, they exist and are in place right now. The help to buy grant is a matter for Revenue. It is a grant that I support but it is an activation measure that relates to new properties. There is no prohibition on a tenant purchasing their local authority home if they meet the criteria that are set out. I also introduced a requirement that the home must be replaced by the local authority. We want to build up our housing stock; we do not want to just sell it out the other side. We are talking about more social homes. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I am conscious that we are straying outside of the section. Just to be courteous to Deputy Healy-Rae, I have answered his question. If he wants to write to me separately, he can do so. We have oral questions coming up the week after next on housing.

See this speech in context