Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Burton spoke about the plight of families and individuals wishing to trade up to larger homes. In my constituency of Dublin South-Central — in areas such as the inner city, Ballyfermot, Walkinstown, Crumlin and Drimnagh — average prices for a modest family home range from €300,000 to €400,000. This is far below the haughty levels at which the houses of many of Deputy Barrett's constituents are valued. In many areas of my constituency, however, a large proportion of the residents are elderly. Some of these grey-haired, well quaffed senior citizens enjoy all the community facilities available in their localities, but they also miss the spirit of youth.

Young people are unable to purchase homes close to their parents, grandparents and other family members. The traditional extended family network persists to a greater degree in inner city areas than elsewhere. While the nuclear family may be the norm in the suburbs, in the working class areas of Dublin that I represent people place great store in the support offered by a greater family network. They are able to go to work because their children can be looked after by family members close by. All of this will be facilitated by the legislation before us by enabling first-time buyers to purchase homes in the areas where their families have lived for generations. That will be a great boost to community spirit in the aforementioned areas. Deputy Burton represents an area comprising similar economic strata to mine.

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