Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am glad this debate took place. People have put thought into it and have views. I am impressed by this.

If there is a difficulty with the sale of affordable homes today, with 3,700 in stock and 50% of them to be sold off, it is important to state that they are part of the national infrastructure and are available for people to live in. Those 3,700 houses will be used for 3,700 families in one form or another. What I am getting from the House is that people have certain views, some of which are mine. Even the houses that are not in public ownership are part of the infrastructure. There may be difficulties in unfinished estates. Time will show that they are there for the use of the public in a private or public manner. I have brought forward an innovative scheme for up to 4,000 of these houses to be dealt with in 2009 under the long-term leasing scheme.

Although local authorities have traditionally worked on the basis of building in different areas, old systems do not have to stay as they are. People must move on and think anew. Life cycles have changed etc. I am asking people in the political system to look at what we are doing so we do not stick our heads in the sand thinking that old schemes are those which served us best. They delivered what we wanted in their time but today we have an opportunity because of the overhang of houses.

It is very important for us to avail of that for the public rather than the private interest, although it may be of benefit to private interests if they could lease their houses. It may kick-start the construction industry in the residential property area somewhat, but that is not the motive. There are people on housing lists and it is important that we adapt and develop schemes which are suitable to their needs in the present time.

I take on board Senator Coffey's comments and we are moving on those areas. We are using such accommodation for social purposes and if local authorities come forward with proposals we will not close our minds to different approaches. As a Minister of State, I am certainly not closing my mind to it; I am open to suggestions from the local authority system. There is much flexibility in housing authorities, which are mostly local authorities. The 20% figure is a maximum so there is flexibility. There are rental accommodation schemes and other programmes.

If local authorities in certain areas come forward with a proposal, I will not close the book on any of them. I would be open to looking at them on the basis of how would provide a home for a family or a person in that functional or catchment area.