Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Again, I can see where Ms Behan is coming from but I have directed people to the local authority where they find the criteria are something similar as if they had gone to the bank or wherever they were going to get their loan, unfortunately, so that is not a winner for them. We would all love to see them getting in the housing market. Could it come down to looking at the assistance side rather than coming up from the other side? I know a number of people who build a big amount of the affordable houses that are built in our county. Unfortunately, the building contractors are finding it hard to move on some of their affordable houses because the people in the bracket who qualified for them could not come with the loan.

Ms Behan mentioned second-hand houses. It is almost impossible to buy these. Because of the vacant house grants, some of these properties are actually making bigger money than new houses. Where can people go to in this situation? I appreciate what the Department is trying to do so people get on the housing market but unfortunately we still have a serious issue out there.