asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware that many Dublin Corporation tenants are being denied the opportunity to buy out their houses under the various schemes of house purchase, initiated by his Department, because of the requirements of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act, 1978 and of the fact that Dublin Corporation are unable to establish clear title, with the necessary legal documents, to a large number of their housing stock particularly in the district formerly administered by the Pembroke Urban District Council; if he will indicate when this matter can be clarified so that tenants can complete the purchase of their houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Dublin House Purchase Schemes.
22.
Under the terms of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act, 1978, which came into operation on 16 May 1978, local authority houses sold to tenants must be disposed of in fee simple, subject to certain temporary restrictions on the use and resale of the houses. Where a housing authority have not the fee simple interest in land on which they have provided houses, the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act, 1978, empowers the authority to acquire such interest.
I am aware that Dublin Corporation are experiencing some difficulty in acquiring the fee simple interest in some of the older housing estates, including those in the district mentioned by the Deputy. The acquisition of the fee simple interest in these cases can in many instances be complex and time consuming, involving as it does, negotiations with private landowners and corporate bodies.
I am satisfied that the Corporation are dealing with this matter in a responsible manner and as expeditiously as possible and that the tenants of the houses involved are not being denied the opportunity of buying out their houses under the various tenant purchase schemes. I understand that the corporation are examining means of accelerating the process of acquisition of the fee simple, including the deployment of extra staff where necessary in order to expedite the sale of the houses involved to the tenants in question.