Senator McDowell said – I thought this was most unfair – that we were sending out the message that first-time buyers were on their own. The State assists them through the stamp duty exemption, worth €5,900 on the average new house price and mortgage relief which is a very significant factor at €1,200 per couple in each of the first five years and slightly less thereafter, representing approximately €12,000 to €15,000 of the total purchase price.