Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he will bring forward to ensure that tenants of Part V houses are not discriminated against when utilising the incremental purchase scheme. [8189/16]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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443. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason Part V council tenancies are not included in the new tenant purchase scheme list of approved properties for purchase application; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8230/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 443 together.

The new incremental tenant purchase scheme for existing local authority houses came into operation on 1 January 2016 in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2014 and the Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015. The scheme will apply to all local authority houses, other than excluded dwellings.

The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V units are excluded from the incremental tenant purchase scheme to ensure that units delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support, and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. I consider the continued development of mixed tenure communities to be very important in promoting social integration.

The new scheme is in the very early stages of implementation and I will be keeping the terms and conditions under ongoing review in the coming months.