The following motion was moved by Deputy Michael McGrath on Tuesday, 27 January 2015:That Dáil Éireann: notes: — the significant fall in home ownership rates in Ireland; — the legitimate aspiration of families to own their own home; — that the lack of housing supply is causing distortions in the property market; — that the dramatic increase in rents and the failure to increase rent supplement supports have put many individuals and families at serious risk of homelessness; and — that 90,000 persons are currently on the social housing waiting lists around the country; and agrees that: — action is required to improve housing affordability, particularly in respect of mortgage interest rates; — the level of savings required should not be prohibitive thereby preventing people from buying their first properties or progressing to a second home; — a coordinated initiative by Government and local authorities is needed to improve the supply of new housing; and — the rent supplement scheme be urgently reviewed to take account of current rents in the market place.

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