Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 18: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plan to phase out the existing tenant purchase scheme and if so when; the direction being given to local authorities to inform tenants that this scheme will no longer available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44393/10]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the tenant purchase scheme; if a directive has been issued to local authorities to end this programme; if a directive has been issued ending the tenant purchase scheme and the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44480/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 192 together.

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.

To ensure an orderly wind-down of the existing scheme, my Department has requested housing authorities to inform all existing and new tenants of houses, as soon as possible, of the decision to end the scheme in 2012 so that they have sufficient time to apply to purchase their home under the existing scheme if they so wish.

Subject to the necessary legislation, the proposed scheme to replace the existing tenant purchase scheme will mean that existing tenants will have the option of buying their own or a new home under the incremental purchase model.