John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I did not quite catch exactly the description of the country the Deputy just gave but, as he knows, there are as many people returning to this country as people leaving it.

In terms of affordability supports, he should tell the 618 individuals and couples in his county of Meath who have been approved under the first home scheme that the support that the Government is providing is not of help to them in getting their foot on the ladder. The Deputy's party opposes the first home scheme. Those 618 individuals and couples in County Meath would not be in homes today if it were not for the first home scheme. The Deputy should tell that to the 6,200 who have received support under the help to buy scheme, again a significant scheme in order to help bridge the gap in terms of the deposit to purchase their first homes, again provided by the Government to support people in giving them their taxes back to be able to get their foot on the property ladder, supports and schemes that the Government is providing and that the Deputy's party opposes.

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