John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the sale of houses regulations to allow local authorities to have discretion in the sale of OPD type houses to tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3230/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is not proposed to amend article 13 of the Housing (Sale of Houses) Regulations 1995 to enable a housing authority to sell Old Persons Dwellings. I consider that this course would not be in the best interests of good estate management and could, over time, reduce the number of dwellings available for occupation by elderly persons.

However, where a tenant who is residing in such a dwelling request the local authority to allow them to purchase a suitable alternative local authority dwelling, the local authority may subject to availability and at its discretion, facilitate this transfer and allow tenant purchase discounts to be applied.