Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I re-emphasise the double whammy that exists in this regard. This issue can be addressed when the financial assessment is being done under the auspices of the fair deal scheme. It is simple enough to do. We must find a way of doing it rather than stating we cannot do it. I put it as bluntly as that. In the cases of at least four vacant houses in rural areas of my parish, the families involved are paying the associated insurance costs, the standing charges for electricity supply and for oil to heat the houses. Family members go into those houses to light fires over the winter to keep them habitable. The houses in question are not being utilised, however. That is wrong. To describe what we are doing as an anomaly is being kind. These situations should not be treated in this way.

As Deputy Denis Naughten stated, when a property is being evaluated, it should be the case that a capped value is taken and a notional income devised in that regard or the rental income should be taken, but not both. In these cases, we are taking money from the most vulnerable. Returning to what Deputy Shortall said, this situation is resulting in many houses in towns and villages around the country being left empty. It is costing people money to keep them repaired and inhabitable, while at the same time we are foostering around trying to find a solution. The solution is very simple. When a financial assessment is made, the fair deal scheme criteria should accept either the capital or rental value, but not both.