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

Question 30: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the need to bring forward proposals, and make the necessary legislative changes, for a house price database to record details of residential and commercial property sales in view of the cessation of the ESRI/Permanent TSB monthly house price index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11661/10]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 158: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made towards the establishment of a house price database which will provide accurate and reliable information regarding specific house sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16177/10]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 158 together.

The need for a more comprehensive house price index to inform national economic and social policy by providing a more meaningful indicator of housing market and wider macro-economic conditions, while also serving to form the basis of key decisions made by home buyers, home sellers and mortgage providers, has been recognised by the Government.

The renewed Programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to create and maintain a comprehensive House Price Database based on sales prices.

My Department has held meetings with a broad range of interested parties to gather views on the shape that such a register might take. Once the work of this group has concluded recommendations will be made to Government. The timing of the establishment of the register will be determined by a range of factors including the possible need to amend the Data Protection Acts to allow for achieved sales prices to be published.