Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I give credit where credit is due and acknowledge that the rent allowance scheme is good. However, as Deputy O'Dowd said, it needs to be extended and facilitated if it is to work.

There is a perception that it is only in the satellite towns around Dublin that young people cannot afford their own houses. In the three main towns of the constituency of south Kerry, namely, Killarney, Kenmare and Dingle, there is a huge problem in this regard in that it is literally impossible for young people to buy houses. There are nearly 1,500 people on the waiting list for houses in the constituency at present, yet only three affordable houses in Killarney were made available to them this year. That is an absolute disgrace.

Part V of the Planning and Development Act should have delivered 30,000 affordable homes. The number built in my constituency should have been considerable.

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