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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Wind energy guidelines

Summary

Deputy Troy asks when revised wind-energy guidelines will be issued amid reported Cabinet disagreement; the Taoiseach says discussions continue and the 2006 guidelines remain in force meanwhile.

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about three issues. The first concerns new wind energy guidelines. I have repeatedly asked when these guidelines will be published. I understand through leaked information that there is a disagreement between two of the Taoiseach's Cabinet colleagues about what new guidelines will be published. There is uncertainty out there and the general public needs to know what new robust guidelines will be produced and when we will have them.

Second, I have repeatedly asked about a new tenant purchase scheme. Many people living in local authority houses wish to have the opportunity to purchase their own homes. There has been no scheme for those people for over 18 months. Councils use this money to reinvest in upgrading other houses, providing grants for people with disabilities and building houses. This has starved councils of much-needed revenue but it has also prevented families from purchasing their own homes. I have asked the Taoiseach about this matter, as well as submitting parliamentary questions to the relevant Minister as to when this scheme will be announced, but we are still no wiser.

Third, the vetting legislation has gone through both Houses of the Oireachtas and we are waiting for the Minister for Justice and Equality to sign the commencement order. When will that be signed?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I will come back to Deputy Troy in respect of his third question. As regards the tenant purchase scheme, obviously the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government reviews this on a regular basis. It is an important point because once a person is allocated a local authority house and starts to pay rent, a proportion of that money is used as an opportunity to buy out the house in due course. It also provides some revenue, small though the amount may be, to local authorities.

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