I am aware of the report referred to and I can assure the Deputy that it was printed without my knowledge or my having been contacted. I am surprised at such a journalistic lapse in a paper a copy of which I receive each day.
In regard to the sale of local authority houses, under section 90 of the Housing Act, 1966 as substituted by section 26 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992, local authorities are authorised to sell dwellings as follows: (1) where the dwelling is occupied by a tenant, it can be sold to the tenant in accordance with the purchase scheme adopted by the authority, in effect, a tenant purchase scheme; (2) to another housing authority or to a body standing approved of for the purposes of section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 i.e. a voluntary or non-profit housing body, and (3) a house can be sold, also when the dwelling is not occupied by a tenant, to any person, including another housing authority. Legislation does not provide authority for the sale of local authority dwellings to institutional investors on the lines mentioned in the question.
The Deputy asked if we intended to sell council houses to institutional investors. We have no intention or authority to do so. We intend to introduce shortly a new purchase scheme to enable tenants buy their local authority dwellings. The scheme will be on-going and no fixed closing date will apply to it. Therefore, tenants can make applications to purchase if and when their circumstances permit.