Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The number of applications has been tiny and the number of purchases has been in the tens. Not a single one of the tenants affected has been transferred onto an affordable rent. The application process is too cumbersome and people do not know about the scheme. It is another of the Minister's failures. He is now telling us that none of that can change until there is change to the legislation. This scheme opened a year ago and the Minister had not even spoken to the approved housing bodies at the time it opened. It would be much more honest of him to come in and say he announced a scheme that did not exist and which has been beset by problems. Renters at risk of eviction, who could and should be availing of this scheme, have not been able to do so because of the Minister's failures. He should at least have the decently to accept the scheme is a mess and needs serious repair. I have made many suggestions to the Minister at committee as to how to fix the scheme he got so badly wrong in the first place.

See this speech in context