Would the Minister agree that a sizeable proportion of applicants are in receipt of social welfare benefit and that many such tenants are unsure whether they will be deprived of formal sanction by the local authority under the scheme? Has the Minister any plans to allow people in receipt of social welfare benefits to proceed with purchase? Are there any restrictions in that regard?

There are no restrictions. I called together the housing officers from all the local authorities to set down precisely what was intended. The fact that a person is in receipt of any kind of social welfare assistance does not deprive him or her of the opportunity to own a home. I would welcome them. That is the reason there is such a big response.