Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with what Senator Landy said. The regulation seems to be very difficult. I encountered a case in which a local authority deems that, because the social welfare income of two retired people on the old age pension is inadequate, they may not purchase their house with the support of family members. The decision is being made on the basis of income rather than family support. The local authority is saying it is not prepared to sell the house, in which the couple has lived for over 40 years. They are now being denied the right to buy it. The regulation is wrong in such circumstances.

The Minister should come to the House to explain to us why it is so difficult for people to purchase, particularly where they have paid rent for a house all their lives and are now in a position to buy. Those affected would have been able to buy ten years ago if there had been a tenant purchase scheme in existence. We should certainly examine this matter.

There is a presentation being made in Buswells Hotel this morning by booksellers and members of their representative organisation. There is now to be just one central tendering process for the purchase of books for libraries. Many of the people involved in this area believe they will go out of business because of the new process being introduced. The likelihood is that the contract could very well go to an organisation outside the country. There are jobs at risk. It is not appropriate to have one central tendering process for the purchase of books. It causes a problem for those who produce and publish their own books. Many Irish authors may be excluded under the process. This is a matter that should be taken up with the Minister for Education and Skills or another relevant Minister to determine why we are now moving towards one central tender for the entire country.