I wish to ask the Taoiseach, bearing in mind previous promises that were made in this House, about a tenant purchase scheme for tenants in local authority houses. There are thousands of people who want to purchase their local authority homes. The Taoiseach's past and present Ministers have promised that the scheme will commence. The programme for Government states that the Government will put in place such a scheme. All I am asking is for fair play for these people who are saving up and want to purchase their local authority houses. Will the Taoiseach tell them tonight when that scheme will be put in place? The Government has fudged it long enough. I am respectfully asking the Taoiseach to indicate when the scheme will be put in place, when it will start and when the Government will notify all the housing departments of local authorities throughout the country that the scheme is going to commence.

I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for his question. I will have to come back to him. This is an important issue for the many people to whom the Deputy has referred. We have had these purchase schemes over the years and, by and large, they have been successful. I will advise Deputy Healy-Rae of the current position in so far as preparation for the scheme is concerned.