P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to enshrine in law the principle of housing as a right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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While I do not consider it appropriate to legislate for a specific right to housing, Government policy on housing has the overarching aim of enabling every household to have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its needs, in a good environment and, as far as possible, at the tenure of its choice. The Government's approach to achieving this policy aim is that those who can afford to do so should provide for their own housing, with the aid where available of certain fiscal incentives or subsidies, and that those unable to access housing in this way should have access to social housing or income support to rent private housing. Existing legislation and funding programmes support this strategy and have been effective in delivering increased outputs.