Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Coming back to an earlier question, affordability takes on an entirely different meaning if it is possible to move the resolution into post-retirement, particularly for people who are in positive equity. There is some confusion in regard to the phrase "sustainable solution" in terms of a lack of appreciation that a solution will not be specific for the next 30 years but will, rather, have a variance to it. For people in their mid to late 50s, for example, who have affordability issues with regard clearing the total sum of their mortgage repayment, is there potential with the type of new scoping out the bank is doing that somebody post-retirement who can afford a portion of the loan could, similar to what AIB is offering, take out some equity or avail of some type of payment programme that would be elongated during retirement?