Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this initiative. The Minister said in his contribution that to date 1,400 companies have availed of this scheme which was originally launched in November 2011. What has been the employment impact to date of the scheme and what is the projected impact of the scheme when fully operational? I am open to correction but my understanding is that this particular measure was originally announced in 2012 as part of budget 2013. It took the Department eight months to submit the original application for approval to the European Commission. Sanction has now been obtained and this measure will become operational from tonight, which is three years on from its initial announcement. Perhaps the Minister will clarify if that is the case and outline why it has taken so long to get approval for a measure that will have a significant impact on employment and on encouraging investment into business in this country.

My second question relates to the retirement villages aspect of this proposal. As the Minister will be aware, under the current restrictions only people over the age of 55 years or persons under the age of 55 years with a medical need can avail of accommodation in these retirement villages. I have a problem with this particular provision. I have been approached by a young man with a physical disability who cannot access bungalow-type accommodation which is wheelchair accessible in the private rented sector in County Roscommon. He wants to live independently but cannot do so. This particular accommodation in Roscommon town would be suitable for him but because he does not have a medical need at this point in time, he cannot access that accommodation, which means he is marooned in a house in a rural part of County Roscommon with no access to public transport. Another person, a young woman, who has a mental health disability cannot access apartment-type accommodation because she does not have an ongoing medical need. This provision needs to be reviewed. There are people with health needs who are being restricted from accessing these particular facilities.

While it may not be the case in other areas, in my area many of the rental properties in the retirement villages are unoccupied. Elderly people in rural areas will not sell their houses - many of which are three and four bedroom houses and are much needed in the housing market - to move into a town where all the services are available unless they have security of tenure. It is alien to people of that generation who own their properties to rent accommodation. This issue needs to be addressed. A scheme that allows them to purchase that property needs to be put in place, perhaps on the condition that it is sold back to the retirement village company when they no longer require it. The lack of security of tenure is, I believe, causing difficulties in terms of the release of rural properties. The introduction of this type of scheme could be of huge benefit in terms of the release of family-type homes in many parts of the country. Elderly people are wary of moving to rented accommodation. This particular issue needs to be resolved.

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