Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce legislation regarding voluntary housing which would allow long term tenants of voluntary housing dwellings to purchase their dwelling outright; the progress made in the setting up of a pilot scheme in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing schemes for the purchase of individual houses by tenants. However, the Government's housing policy statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, indicated that consideration would be given, in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to piloting a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes based on the incremental purchase model. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is expected to be published during the present Dáil session, will include provisions to give effect to the incremental purchase scheme. In parallel with this, arrangements for the introduction of a pilot scheme for the voluntary housing sector are being considered in consultation with the Irish Council for Social Housing.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the full implementation of the Aarhus convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16067/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998. Progress towards ratification of the Convention is closely aligned with work at EU level and, in that context, the European Union has adopted two Directives as part of the ratification process for the Convention. These deal with public access to environmental information (2003/4/EC) and public participation in certain environmental decision-making procedures (2003/35/EC). Regulations transposing the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Directive 2003/4/EC were signed and came into effect on 1 May 2007. The process to transpose Directive 2003/35/EC is already well advanced, with legislation completed to amend the majority of the relevant consent systems. The remaining work will be finalised by the Departments concerned as soon as possible. When this work has been completed I, along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, will ensure that the instrument of ratification of the Aarhus Convention is submitted to Government and laid before the Dáil as soon as possible.