John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I also want to mention the changes that were made for first-time buyers both in mortgage interest relief and stamp duty. Not alone did the Minister reduce costs for first-time buyers but he also brought certainty to the stamp duty issue. I acknowledge that interest rates have risen. However, anyone who is considering purchasing a home to live in, rather than an investment property, given the current reduction in house prices and stamp duty, it is probably cheaper to buy a house now than it has been for a long time. Opposition Members may talk about negative equity and the fall in property values over time, but if one can afford to buy a house as a home over the longer period, now is probably as good a time as any to do so.

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