Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are coming across many first-time buyers who are finding it very difficult to put the deposit together because, invariably, they are living in rental accommodation and paying anything from €800 to €1,200 per month in rent. I am framing the question in the context of the exceptions. Consider the case of someone who is renting consistently and meets the requirements beyond the deposit requirement, including the requirement for an average loan no more than 3.5 times one's earnings. The bank will obviously have its own measurements. If one meets the requirements beyond the deposit requirement, one falls into the exception category. If the individual is paying rent of €1,000 or €1,200 per month, it is very difficult or nearly impossible to save. If he or she saves between €200 and €300 consistently every month with Ulster Bank over a year or two, amounting to perhaps €3,000 per year, thereby demonstrating creditworthiness, could the exception limit be extended? Does Mr. Mallon understand the context?