Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A young man, Seán, came into my office last week. He works full time, is separated and has two children. He has a good job but is living with his parents because he cannot afford to buy a house. He has saved every penny he can and has substantial savings. He applied and was accepted for an affordable housing scheme run by Cork County Council but even with all of his savings, a gift from his parents, a good job, and a mortgage offer from a bank, he is still €20,000 short. He does not qualify for social housing. He cannot buy a house. This Government promised that he could buy a house but its scheme is failing. This is a man with two children who has a good job and good savings but the Government's affordable housing policy is in tatters. The affordable housing that the Government is providing is not affordable. What do I tell Seán? What will the Taoiseach tell him? Where does he and his two children go? He is in his thirties. Must he live with his parents for the rest of his life?

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