John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. He is correct to state all units advertised by Dublin City Council were taken up under the rent-to-buy scheme when it was launched 2010. As stated, the scheme is an excellent one. It allows people who cannot afford to put aside money for a down payment or a deposit on a house to get onto the property ladder. In addition, 80% of the rent they pay on their dwellings for three years goes towards an eventual sale price agreed with the local authority. Effectively, this means that they can live in the property, in respect of which they are setting aside a down payment and which, I hope, they will be able to purchase in the future. It is a win-win for everyone involved. Unfortunately, the goalposts were moved and those who signed up to agreements have been informed by the city council that it does not know whether it is going to allow them to buy these units as a result of some technical difficulties that need to be ironed out, whether - if sales proceed - the market price agreed three years ago will apply and whether it will provide some waiver or recognition of the additional rent they have paid for seven or eight months beyond the terms of their original agreements.

If nothing else, the tenants in Prospect Hill, Finglas, should be treated fairly and consulted by Dublin City Council. If an agreement is reached, they should be given recognition for the fact that have spent over three years in their apartments and that they are currently paying rent which they did not plan to pay. They do not even know whether they are going to be able to buy the homes in which they are living. Will the Minister of State ask his officials to, at the very least, contact Dublin City Council in order to discover what is happening and ensure the 61 families in Prospect Hill who signed up to the original agreements will receive answers and be treated fairly?

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