Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I fully support the vacant property grant as does my party but we would change it. We would not scrap it as the Minister continually says. We would change it and make it better. The first home scheme drives up the price of housing. We know that. Perhaps my figures are incorrect but I believe that the tenant in situ scheme has only involved three properties in Cavan and five in Monaghan. People have come to me who are renting a house. The house goes on sale, they are in negotiations hoping the council will buy the house, the council is willing to buy the house but the next thing, all negotiations stop, they do not know why and they get no explanation. I have sought answers from the Minister but they are not provided, which is very frustrating for people because people want to know if there are issues around the house that could be resolved very easily, they would be willing to do that and they should be given that opportunity.

Housing is affecting everything in life. We heard today that we have a shortage of 1,000 primary school teachers. Many of them are leaving because they cannot afford to live here and the main reason for that is the cost of housing.

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