Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

We must attach a means test to it. While some €5 million was provided for it 1993, the corresponding figure for this year is €160 million. More than 8,000 people are in receipt of subvention.

The amendments tabled by Deputies McManus and Twomey attempt to change the term "Dublin area" used in the Bill to "Greater Dublin area" and to include several local authority areas in the definition of "Greater Dublin area". Deputy Twomey's amendments were not accepted on Committee Stage because we have used the same definition of the Dublin area as is used by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when compiling data on house prices. It is logical to do so. It is not feasible to begin including other areas in the definition because some geographical boundary must be drawn. If we were to include the counties immediately surrounding Dublin, we would have to include the counties adjacent to them.

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