Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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356. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a regulation or directive from his Department which prevents a local authority from purchasing a home for a family in a rural area; if so, when same came into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22424/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding support to local authorities to acquire suitable new and second-hand housing for social housing use. The selection of such housing for acquisition is a matter for local authorities as the housing authorities for their areas, with the clear expectation that such acquisitions meet priority housing need, are suitable, good quality, value for money and sustain balanced tenure mix. There is no direction otherwise from my Department which prevents local authorities from purchasing in particular areas.