Vol. 483 No. 3
51 Ms M. McGennis asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will amend the terms under which local authorities operate their tenant purchase schemes to allow for purchasing of flats in view of the fact that the current system which prohibits the sale of flats to tenants has the effect of encouraging many tenants who are potential community leaders to seek transfers to houses which they can then purchase. [20056/97]
A detailed examination of the issues that arise in relation to the sale of local authority flats concluded that no practical arrangement could be made which would be satisfactory to tenant purchasers or local authorities or even to other tenants in a flat complex who would not wish to purchase. The three main reasons local authority flats would be a bad buy for tenants relate to: the level to service charges that would be necessary; public liability insurance; and the future saleability of purchased flats. These matters were outlined in detail in the 1995 policy document Social Housing — The Way Ahead, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
Local authorities were, therefore, then advised that flats should not be offered for sale under the current tenant purchase scheme and I do not propose to amend the scheme in this respect.
