Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given any consideration to facilitating a tenant purchase scheme for tenants of voluntary housing associations, wherein provision was made under the capital allowance or other schemes which were paid for in full by the Exchequer; the total number of houses operated under such schemes; the likely benefit to the Exchequer in the event of a sale to tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31442/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has given any consideration to the possible sale of local authority houses to the tenants; if any evaluation has been done as to the total number of houses likely to fall within the category of possible sale to tenants; if consideration has been given to the potential benefit to the Exchequer arising from any such disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31443/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.

The Housing [Miscellaneous Provisions]Act, 2009 introduced a new approach to the sale of social housing whereby social housing tenants, including tenants of approved housing bodies, could acquire new local authority houses and existing apartments under the Incremental Purchase Scheme [IPS]. The details of this scheme are available on my Department's website.

The IPS is intended to replace tenant purchase schemes provided for under Section 90 of Housing Act, 1966 [as amended]. The existing tenant purchase scheme, which has been in existence since 1995, is being wound down from the end of this year. Arrangements for the termination of this scheme were communicated to housing authorities on 6th June, 2012 in Housing Circular 23/2012.

It is my intention to replace the tenant purchase scheme with a new scheme based on the incremental purchase model for tenants of existing local authority housing. Legislation is required to underpin the new model which it is hoped to introduce in 2013.

While there is no provision at present for the purchase of individual houses by tenants in voluntary and co-operative housing schemes, my Department is currently in consultation with the voluntary housing sector regarding the development of an enabling regulatory framework that will support the expanded role for the sector, including options for purchase.

The IPS approach was evaluated as part of the preparatory work for the 2009 Act which showed that there were potential benefits to the State and to the local community in adopting the new approach. While the sale of local authority dwellings does reduce the stock of social housing available for letting there are compensating social and economic benefits attaching to maintaining the option of selling dwellings to tenants.

The tenant purchase of local authority dwellings is also evaluated in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's thematic evaluation series paper entitled Social Housing Supports.