Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will continue to maintain an option for tenant purchase of their own homes for existing tenants of local authorities without time limitations or restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18662/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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As announced in June 2010 it remains the intention that the existing tenant purchase arrangements will be wound down in 2012 to be replaced by a new scheme for existing local authority housing. It is not possible at this stage to specify the terms of the new scheme but the intention is that it will be modelled on the incremental purchase scheme introduced in June 2010 for newly-built social housing. That scheme allows social housing tenants and households qualified for social housing support to avail of attractive discounts, from 40% to 60% of the total cost of the house depending on income, to purchase a new social housing unit.

It was never intended that the option for existing local authority tenants to buy their own homes be discontinued, but that it would be replaced instead with a more up-to-date and equitable purchase model.