Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I have made provision in the legislation for voluntary bodies to make sales under the incremental purchase scheme. I cannot force them to do so but I have made provision in the legislation for it. Members are aware of the review being carried out of the voluntary housing side of the social housing programme. The report of that review will be available later this year. I will then be in a better position to speak on this matter. There is provision in this Bill for voluntary bodies to sell houses to their tenants. This is the first time this has been made possible. Voluntary bodies may find it appropriate to sell because they may need to develop a fund base in the future. I hope they will travel that road, now that we have provided the facility to do so.

With regard to management companies, I earlier referred to the holding of plebiscites, and people must then be prepared to serve as directors of the management company. In many of the designated complexes, a large number of people may decide to continue as local authority tenants. They must also be catered for. Local authorities will not renege on their responsibilities to their tenants even when a management company is in place. This is provided for in the legislation. Where there is a genuine interest in selling, a sufficient number of people who decide to buy and people prepared to become directors - I am sure people will want to be directors of their own housing development to look after common areas, structural work and so on - things will fall into place. However, local authorities will continue to be responsible for its own tenants.