1042 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that tenants of local authority dwellings here who wish to purchase their houses by tenant purchase scheme are finding it prohibitive, in view of the fact that the local authorities under the scheme are taking into consideration the current valuation on the houses; and his proposals to bring forward a more favourable tenant purchase scheme. [15088/07]

In line with the Government's recently published Housing Policy Statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, an enhanced scheme of tenant purchase will be introduced. The Government has approved the drafting of the Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006, which provides, inter alia, for new tenant purchase arrangements. The drafting of the Bill is being advanced as quickly as possible with a view to publication by early summer.