Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not believe that the scheme has achieved the purpose for which it was intended at all, which is bad enough. However, it has also contributed to the housing affordability problem without a doubt. I am not alone in thinking that. All of my colleagues in opposition have said that. More importantly, the ESRI has said it. Social Justice Ireland, who keep their ears close to the ground, based on research, have repeatedly said it. The scheme is helping people who are already in a position to have a deposit for a house. I would like the review to examine the salaries of the people who are availing of the scheme, their professions, whether they are single persons or a couple, the amount of the deposit that they had and whether the recipient could afford a house in the first place. We need a detailed analysis of the scheme to see whether it is achieving the purpose that it was set out to achieve. I will be the first to say "Sorry", if I am wrong. However, we need that review and we need clarification on who will carry out the review and its terms of reference, which are extremely important.

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