Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

I am a little disappointed that the senior Minister for housing is not here to answer on this very important issue. The Ringfort development in Rathmolyon, County Meath, has been plagued by mismanagement, delay tactics and questionable dealings that have left five families locked out of their homes for more than five years. It has been more than five years since couples put a booking deposit down on a home in the development. They signed contracts on homes that were being built and, instead of being in their new homes, they spent the past five years trapped in limbo, paying rent, storing furniture and living with a constant sense of uncertainty and frustration. They paid their initial €5,000 deposit in October 2020, followed by a balance of €24,500 in early 2021. One couple signed their contract in July 2021 and were told to expect completion within 18 months, by the end of 2022. That never happened. What began as small delays soon spiralled into a nightmare for these buyers. In early 2023, they were told by the developer that each buyer would need to pay an additional €60,000 to make the project viable. It was extortion. In May 2024, it was agreed to pay an additional €26,000 each to help move things along. A letter confirming this agreement was sent to solicitors. It was not subject to contract; it was open correspondence. The homebuyers accepted and signed, believing the end was near. By late 2024, every house on the site was structurally complete. The utilities were connected. All that remained were the final road surfacing and landscaping works. Now in 2025, a liquidator has been appointed, plunging everything back into chaos. The homebuyers face the prospect of losing the homes they paid deposits and signed contracts for. The financial stress and emotional toll has been immense on the five homebuyers who did not pull out of their contracts. They have spent thousands of euro in rent since 2020, not to mention storage cost and lost savings. One family from the group was evicted from their rental home earlier this year and is now living in a single bedroom with their young child. Another couple lives less than 200 yards from the Ringfort site and every time they pass it, they say they feel a mix of heartbreak and anger. Their contracts, you would guess, are legally binding. They have paid deposits and the homes are built, but these families cannot move in.

Even if these families had their deposits returned, they simply can no longer purchase houses at today's prices, which essentially leaves them homeless. One couple stated how ordinary people can do everything right and still lose. They have gone through every proper channel, kept every line of communication open and offered compromise after compromise, and still no progress has been made. The families who signed contracts for these homes are asking for accountability. I first brought this up nearly two and a half years ago. I ask the Minister of State to intervene and contact the Revenue Commissioners and his Department to step in and ensure the homebuyers' contracts are honoured after five years. Will he meet the five families affected as soon as possible? These families are close to losing everything they have worked so hard for. They need help and support from us all, and they need it now.

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