Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the remarks of the Minister of State. In his initial response he spoke about sustainable communities. Thankfully, over many decades we had local authority policies that worked well with local authority housing and a mix of households. We will not have sustainable communities if we do not improve the income limits. We will only have people who are on low incomes, especially those dependent solely on the State for income if we do not improve the income limits. The counties I represent, Cavan and Monaghan, are in the lowest tier in respect of the bands referred to by the Minister of State.

If there is no change soon, we will condemn a generation to renting for life. No one in this House wants to see that. People are entitled to be able to aspire to own their own home whether through the local authority or through a mortgage or loan of their own. We need action on this.

Again, I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and to the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. I know both are highly committed to making progress in this area. We need progress as rapidly as possible or we are condemning more and more people to rent for life.

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