Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate. One of the legacies of the previous Government is the mortgage arrears crisis. It led the charge with its many developer friends and the bankers in its circle. The crisis is crippling many young couples. We are all aware of family and friends who are in mortgage distress. We know how stressful it is for them on a daily basis. I am concerned in particular about young people who bought into their dream home and have been left with the property tied around their neck.

Another situation relates to people who bought properties when they were single and since then they fell in love and are living together. It is very stressful for many of them to deal with two mortgages. The Government is making strides. The Personal Insolvency Act is one step in the right direction that will give an opportunity to some if not all to have some pressure taken off them. That is a welcome opportunity for everyone. Being in mortgage debt and not being able to pay one’s bills is stressful but it is a situation everyone in this country is dealing with at present. Times are hard for everyone. What we are trying to do is to make a better future for our children.

The impact on social housing is due to the many people who have had to give back their keys and put their names on a list in the city council offices. Driving through my constituency I fail to understand the number of vacant apartments. I welcome the initiative of the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, who has identified 400 apartments and houses through NAMA that could be used for social housing. I have been a member of many regeneration board projects since 1999. Fatima Mansions, Bridge House and Bridgefoot Street are great projects that have added significantly to the inner city. Other developments lost out such as St. Michael’s Estate, Dolphin House and St. Teresa’s Gardens. We could blame public representatives for such projects not going ahead but communities must also take responsibility. I spent many years on such boards. Community organisations must take responsibility for PPPs not going ahead. In one case we were six weeks away from signing an agreement for a project to go ahead in the constituency but the plug was pulled by community organisations - not political parties or people living in the estates. They must bear some responsibility for some developments not proceeding. That is especially regrettable at a time when so many people need to go on the social housing list.

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