Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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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.

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very distressing situation for the homebuyers who entered into contracts and indeed paid significant deposits for the purchase of 16 homes at Ringfort development in Rathmolyon, County Meath. I have read news reports as recently as this morning about this case. My deepest sympathies go out to those families. I understand the frustration they are facing. For many of us, buying a new home is a dream. It is an aspiration for all families. The Government is committed to ensuring such aspirations can be realised. That is why we published the Government housing action plan last week, which commits to delivery of 300,000 homes to the end of 2030, including 90,000 starter home supports.

As I am sure the Deputy will understand, this matter is subject to an ongoing legal process and I understand the developer company is appointing a liquidator. Accordingly, I am constrained in what I can say on the matter. While I certainly share the understandable concerns of the Deputy and the families concerned, there are clear laws of contract and legal frameworks governing the purchase of houses that should be enforced.

I am aware State support has been drawn upon by both the homebuyers and developer concerned. I understand help to buy was used by some of the homebuyers to support the purchase, while the developer drew down loan funding from Home Building Finance Ireland to help finance the development, debt I am given to understand has been repaid. Notwithstanding the State support provided, the matter remains a private contractual and legal one between the homebuyers and the developer in question. Accordingly, it would be inappropriate for me as Minister of State or for the Government to intervene, especially when the appropriate legal processes are under way.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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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.

John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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As I said in my opening reply, I have great sympathy for those who are trying to purchase homes here and across the country. That is why the Government is putting supports in place like the one the Deputy mentioned, to support homebuyers in purchasing their first home. I would love to be able to solve this matter for the individuals and families in question. As he will appreciate, contractual and legal frameworks govern the purchase of properties and have to be followed. This is a matter in respect of which a legal process is ongoing.

As a result, unfortunately, as Minister of State I am not in a position to be able to intervene. I want these families to be able to be in their homes as much as the Deputy does. From a departmental perspective, we are keeping a close eye on proceedings and what is happening here in this particular instance. Unfortunately, given the state of the circumstances that face us at the moment, it is not appropriate to be able to intervene.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister of State meet the families?