Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My question relates to A Programme for a Partnership Government and the commitment for a new model of affordable cost rental scheme. It is a measure that Sinn Féin broadly supports. I know that there is broad support for it in the House. There is a commitment to develop that and to set out a plan within the first 100 days of Government. A situation is arising with the cost rentals. In their absence and in the absence of the affordable housing scheme, which was cancelled by the last Government, in County Laois a couple on more than €26,250 cannot get onto the social housing waiting list. That is an income of €504 per week. If they went into a bank to look for a loan, they would be swept out through the door by the bank manager. They would not even get a look in. We have a whole cohort of people caught between incomes of €500 and €1,000 a week who can neither afford a place to rent nor can get a mortgage. We have no affordable housing scheme and we have no cost rental scheme. This is in the programme for Government and we broadly support it. What is happening to it? We are 400 days into the Government and this was promised in the first 100.

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