Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the local authorities have discussed the possible removal of the tenant purchase discount with his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30473/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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When I introduced the Incremental Purchase Scheme, applying to certain new local authority housing stock, on 14 June 2010 I indicated my intention to bring forward legislation in 2011 to underpin a similar scheme for the sale of existing local authority houses to tenants. This scheme will replace the current tenant purchase scheme introduced in 1995.

The intention to replace the existing tenant purchase scheme was signalled in the housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, which was the subject of consultation with interested parties. The decision to begin the wind-down of the scheme was the subject of consultation with the County and City Managers' Association.

To ensure an orderly wind-down of the existing scheme, my Department has requested housing authorities to inform all existing tenants of houses as soon as possible (and new tenants on allocation of a house) of the decision to end the scheme so that they have sufficient time to apply to purchase their home under the existing scheme if they so wish.