Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 562: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason tenants of housing associations are not allowed to purchase their homes; if he will introduce legislation to allow tenants of housing associations to purchase their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15086/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The provision of accommodation by approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies is an integral part of my Department's overall response to delivering on social housing need. Local authorities and approved housing bodies are working in close co-operation to deliver an expanded range of social housing options and a wide range of accommodation types to meet the needs of low-income families and persons with special housing needs.

There is no provision at present in the voluntary housing sector 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 sector, to piloting a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes based on the incremental purchase model. The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, currently before the Oireachtas, includes provision for the introduction of an incremental purchase scheme, and the issues arising in this regard for the voluntary housing sector are being considered in consultation with the Irish Council for Social Housing.