Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On a related point, many people are paying significant amounts of money in rent at the moment. If they were able to get on the housing ladder, they would be paying far less than they pay on rent. In the case of those who have paid rent for four, five or six years, could the Central Bank allow the banks to recognise in some way that these people have consistently been paying monthly rents of €2,000 or €2,500, given that a mortgage payment might be much less, perhaps €1,200 or €1,500 per month? There does not appear to be a mechanism to give recognition to people who cannot save for a deposit because they are paying so much in rent. It is very difficult for them to put a deposit together. I do not want people to be over-indebted or find themselves in circumstances in which they will lose their homes. Is there some way or mechanism by which the Central Bank could give people recognition for setting aside money every month for their rent given that this money would be more than adequate to service a mortgage?