John Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The point that this is another form of affordable housing is an important one. Not everybody wants to own a brand-new, A-rated home in an estate in the city. Some people want to live within their local communities, like what Deputy O'Donoghue referred to. They want to be able to take an older property and bring it back into productive use; that is what the Government is essentially doing through the Croí Cónaithe scheme.

Mr. Grimes did not get a chance to expand on my questions about the challenges encountered on the affordable proposition or the difficulties and constraints, particularly in the coastal setting market, which are replicated across the country. It is important to state that a €300,000 affordable unit in Waterford city is available for purchase by the purchaser with the help-to-buy scheme and the equity scheme for about €200,000. Any family that can sustain a mortgage of €200,000 is able to get their foot on the ladder. That is a key plank of Government policy in supporting people. Will Mr. Grimes talk about the challenges and the coastal piece in particular? It is a challenge for us.