Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 202: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the granting of pre-emptive rights to local authorities to purchase property at points of sale and on the encouragement of local authorities to make more active use of compulsory purchase orders to secure land or properties for social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40362/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Local authorities already have powers under the Planning and Development Act 2000 to purchase land for the purpose of their housing strategies and under the Housing Act 1966 to acquire dwellings for social housing purposes. I have no proposals at this time for the further expansion of these powers.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 203: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the introduction of a legislative right to housing as has been done in France and other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40363/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 appropriate, of certain fiscal incentives or subsidies, and that those unable to meet their housing needs 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 access to housing.