Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am glad to hear that further changes are envisioned. In all honesty, when you think about it, a ten-year rule for someone who has been in a council house for ten, 15 or 20 years, who gets married and is then confined to hanging on for up to ten years, does not make sense. I hope that is reconsidered. We must get an appropriate balance, as the Minister of State mentioned. The situation as it stands is not balanced. It is unfair.

The scheme was introduced in 2022 and it has been fabulous for some people, including my wife and I, who purchased our own house. It has been a fabulous scheme and I have no problem with it in general, except for this issue which has been brought to my attention. I also raised the issue in respect of people with disabilities. I know why the local authorities and councillors, in many cases, have been opposed to selling off stock. In general, I accept that. However, in the interests of fairness, just because someone has a disability and a house that has been adapted should not mean he or she is treated any differently from anyone else. That is my opinion. As part of the review, I would like the Minister to consider the situation. An allowance should be made where there is a genuine case to be looked at.

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