Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 617: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to introduce an enhanced tenant purchase scheme for long term tenants of local authority houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5084/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 1453 of 25 January 2006. The position is unchanged.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a person who is in a position to do so can buy out a Respond house; if not, his plans to change the legislation to allow people to buy out Respond houses; if the same deal with regards to the discount which is offered up to ten years for people in local authority housing will be offered to these people. [5112/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 622: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if consideration has been given to allowing tenants of voluntary houses to purchase their own home in line with a commitment he gave to introduce a pilot scheme in this area two years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5176/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 622 together.

I assume that the questions refer to housing provided by approved housing bodies with funding provided under my Department's capital loan and subsidy scheme. While there is no provision at present in the voluntary housing scheme for the purchase of individual houses by tenants, my Department indicated in the recently published document Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities that consideration would be given, in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to pilot a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes under the scheme.

Already, residents of more than one year's duration of houses provided under the scheme who wish to become owner-occupiers may, on surrendering their house to the approved body, qualify for the following benefits: special mortgage allowance of €11,450 over five years for mortgages created on or after 1 January 2002 to assist with mortgage repayments; the shared ownership scheme; improvement works in lieu scheme in respect of the dwelling they are acquiring; low cost housing sites schemes, and exemption from the income limit for local authority loans. Full details of these options are available from local authorities.