Local authority tenant purchase scheme
Patrick Nulty seeks replacement tenant-purchase legislation before existing schemes expire and requests a debate on the housing crisis. Coveney says a housing Bill is expected by year-end or early next year and leaves the debate request to the Whips.
The Minister will be aware that at the end of the month the tenant purchase scheme for long-term local authority tenants for 2011 will expire and that the other alternative scheme, the 1995 scheme, will expire at the end of the year. When will the Government bring forward legislation to provide for a new tenant purchase scheme to give clarity to local authority tenants and local authorities as there is much concern about the issue at the moment?
Will the Minister raise with the Whips the possibility of a debate in the House on the housing crisis because approximately 100,000 families are on the housing waiting list? There seems to be a myopic approach to addressing the issue. We need a debate in the House on this national crisis.
Comment on this
The second issue is one that needs to be raised with the Whips and if it can be accommodated I am sure the Government will have no difficulty with it.
Comment on this
In terms of the tenant purchase scheme and the need for new legislation, I am told the matter will be dealt with through a housing Bill and that we should see it before the end of the year or else early next year.