Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the proposers of this motion. I wish to refer to the tenant purchase scheme. Every week for five years I asked the Taoiseach to introduce such a scheme. He, and the Government at the time, brought in a scheme which debars 80% of people from the opportunity to purchase their local authority house. People may have the money. If, however, a person's house is valued at €40,000, €60,000, €70,000 or €80,000 and even if he or she can prove he or she can pay for it outright - from retirement money or life savings in a bank account - he or she cannot purchase it if he or she is not in full-time employment. I ask that this be changed. It does not make sense. It is outrageous to debar 80% of people. If people are on pensions or other social protection payments, such as disability allowance or unemployment benefit, they are automatically debarred. That is an outrageous. If they can have the capacity to pay, they should be allowed to do so.

I support the call to allow single rural cottages to be built, and also that relating to demountable buildings. The Taoiseach was completely confused by the latter last week or the week before. He was looking up at the sky and did not have a clue what a demountable unit is. He had never heard of such a thing. He thought it was something from outer space. It had to be explained to him. I hope he has learned what it is in the meantime because many people in rural Ireland lived in them very happily for a long time. Thanks be to God they were not relying on the Taoiseach to provide them. He would not have been able to do so because he did not know what they were. I want to ensure that they will be provided in the future.

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