Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome that the Minister is open to investigating whether a category of people may be disadvantaged as a result of their exclusion from this section. He referred to the housing adaption grant, in which respect two issues arise. The first is that it is means tested, with the result that the grant is not available to households with incomes in excess of €65,000 regardless of whether the work involves a stair lift, a ramp or an additional room for a spouse or child. The second issue is that the person for whom the grant is sought must be occupying the house as his or her normal place of residence. This means the category of people to which I refer would not be eligible for the grant. These people are not currently living in a house that is suitable for their needs and they want to purchase a new house with, for example, a stair lift or a ramp. Such facilities are not provided in every newly built house.

I take the Minister's point in regard to ensuring the measure is not used to fit out or finish houses but how does one define a newly built property? In my head it is not just bricks and mortar; it is a property that is suitable for living in that has fixtures and fittings. Revenue has to deem that the work qualifies and the contractor has to provide Revenue with a list of the works involved. Revenue will, therefore, have sufficient tools at its disposal to see, for example, that a kitchen is being put into a house that never had one previously. As it is not a replacement feature, it is not eligible. However, a stair lift or a ramp may be involved, or else a room may need to be adapted to allow for a walk-in shower. They may be few and far between but there is a category of people who should not be excluded from this scheme. They can purchase a second-hand house and do all the work I have identified. As the Chairman noted, if they purchase a new house it may have to abide by the standards in any case so that, for example, the switches would be lower and it would be possible to bring a wheelchair into the bathroom. However, that may not be enough. There may be requirements for a walk-in shower, a ramp or a stair lift. The kitchen may need to be adapted so that people can access their presses.

I will not press the amendment now because we can investigate further its wording to ensure the measure is not abused but I believe the section as it stands is not accommodating a certain category of people.