Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made on the setting up of a national house price register database; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26797/10]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to establish a national house price register database; his views on whether there is a need for such database to which the general public should have access and for greater transparency regarding house sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26884/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 419 together.

The renewed Programme for Government sets out a clear commitment to create and maintain a comprehensive House Price Database based on sales prices. Not only would accurate house price information arising from this database facilitate key decisions by home buyers, home sellers, and mortgage lenders, it would also inform national economic and social policy by providing a more meaningful key indicator of housing market and wider macro-economic conditions.

My Department has met with a broad range of interested parties in regard to the shape that such a register might take, and recommendations arising from this process will be made to Government shortly. The timing of the establishment of a register will be determined by a range of factors including the possible need for amendment of the Data Protection Acts to allow for publication of achieved sales prices.