Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It has already been said that we have outdated income levels. We need this review. We need to ensure we have reasonable income levels. We have people who are caught in the middle and they are suffering. We need affordable cost-rental, affordable mortgages and council houses.

We need to take into account not only income levels but also that people have increased costs. I am talking about people who may have children with serious mobility issues or a disability. I have in mind one particular issue that has come to my attention lately in Dundalk. We are not exactly sure how we are going to deal with it. I also know of many cases involving people who spend eight, nine or ten years on the housing list. At the last moment they may get a small increase in wages and then miss out on having a council house on that basis. They cannot afford a mortgage by any stretch of the imagination.

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