Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 10, line 7, after "the" to insert "Greater".

This amendment seeks to include reference to the "greater Dublin area" as opposed to the "Dublin area". Section 7C (4)(b)(i) specifies a distinction between two specific groups of people, those who live within the "Dublin area", for whom a cut-off limit of €500,000 on the value of the family home applies, and those who live outside the "Dublin area", for whom a limit of €300,000 applies. I asked the Minister of State about this on Committee Stage and he told me that the term "Dublin area" is used by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in reference to house prices.

If such a major distinction is to be made between the Dublin area and the rest of the country, we need something more accurate than this. This uncertainty will give rise to situations where houses on one side of the street in a borderline area are eligible for the higher threshold while those on the other side fall into the lower threshold category. Some towns that have a case for inclusion will be excluded from the higher limit. During the debate on this issue on Committee Stage, Deputy McManus asked whether Wicklow or Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, for example, are included. Does it encompass the commuter zone of the greater Dublin area, which includes counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, as well as parts of Carlow, Wexford and Louth?

We must have clarity on this point before the legislation is enacted and implemented. I am aware there are no regulations from the HSE in this regard and that the Minister of State is not sure whether the homes of elderly people will be taken from them. There must be certainty as to the precise scope of the area to which the higher threshold applies.

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