Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As far as I can see, the scheme is not working as well as previously. I ask the Minister of State to consider a number of things to make it work better in the future. Reinstate the scheme to its original state. Failing that, reinstate it for properties where refurbishment costs are proportionate to a purchase which is often worse value. Provide county-level data on acquisitions that have been declined or not pursued since March 2005 due to the refurbishment cost barrier. Provide data from each local authority about the number of tenants who have presented as homeless, following the refusal to purchase the property under this scheme. Let us all see the scale of this problem. The tenant in situ scheme was built on a simple principle of keeping families in their homes. The refurbishment exclusion has undermined that principle. I ask the Minister of State to restore the old scheme. I think it would work better for people going forward.

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