Mr. Jim Baneham:

Regarding the lack of hard income limits, and as stated by the Department last week, eligibility under the scheme will work by being linked to the ability to purchase a property. If someone can buy a property using the current market prudential rules and so on, that person will not be eligible. As incomes change and people purchase at different prices, for example, €350,000, the level of subsidy in terms of the equity share will vary depending on the income of the household. The same income limit will not be applied to someone on €80,000 as to someone on €70,000. It will vary to match people's needs. This was stated last week, although I do not know whether it was fleshed out. It addresses one of the ESRI's concerns about the scheme's targeting.