Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

These amendments extend the provisions concerned to disapply section 211(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 from disposals of dwellings or lands by a housing authority under the following schemes: the rental accommodation arrangements, the new incremental purchase scheme, the tenant purchase scheme and affordable housing under both the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 and Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Section 211(2) of the planning Act provides that, subject to subsection (3), the Minister's consent is required for any sale, lease or exchange of land acquired or building provided by a local authority for any statutory purpose where the selling price is below the market value. As all the schemes referred to are national schemes implemented by housing authorities with a policy framework set down by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, there is no need for ministerial consent in cases of individual disposals under the schemes.