Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

As State support has been drawn down on these houses, I believe the Minister of State can intervene and that we need to intervene. I visited the site in Ringfort last Friday and blocks were being delivered to complete works on the boundary wall. This site is nearly complete, which begs the question why the developer would continue to work on the site if it is going to liquidate it. Yesterday we attended a meeting with the liquidator, the developer and the homebuyers. The homebuyers left the meeting with many question unanswered. The homes they paid deposits on are built, the lights are on but five years after giving deposits, some with the help to buy scheme as the Minister of State said, the doors are still locked for the five families who just want to move into their forever homes. Residents believe this case exposes how existing company and receivership law allows directors to manipulate processes at the expense of ordinary homebuyers. I have seen developments delayed in different towns. Developers are hoping that homebuyers pull out of legally binding contracts so they can get the current market value for houses they are building, which is at an all-time high and increasing. If the price decreased in value, the developer would expect contracts to be honoured. It should be the same the other way around. I ask the Minister of State again to intervene here so these homebuyers can move into their homes. The way they are being treated is appalling. The flaws in Ireland's housing regulation and receivership system are being taken advantage of. I plead with the Minister of State to make the right decision and intervene to protect these five homebuyers and families who remain and want their contracts, legally binding agreements, honoured in the middle of a housing crisis.

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