Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I thank Senators Coghlan and Feighan for sharing time. I echo their sentiments on behalf of my county council as well as talking on behalf of the rest of the people who have spent the past two to three years pre-planning the building of a house. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, may have no expertise in pre-planning, budgeting and putting money aside for a rainy day or a project. From 14 November, people who had not paid a deposit to a builder will not get the €3,810 grant. I am looking forward to an election in a year's time when people on the Government side will be canvassing houses in their areas where there might be no kitchen or fireplace or wooden floors because this €3,810 was part of their budget set aside to pay for a part of their house. These people have been betrayed by the Government because they were not consulted on this change. It is a disgrace. I speak on behalf of many young people and I call for the immediate reinstatement of the first-time buyer's grant.