Instead of more money being pumped into the various local authority social housing programmes as promised, the Minister for Finance cut the local authority programmes by 5%, but the big bombshell was the abolition of the €3,510 first-time buyer's grant. I was amused by the Minister's comment that it had outlived its usefulness. It is a move the Minister and the two Government parties will rue – and all for a mere saving of €39 million. In one fell swoop, the Minister shattered the dreams of many young couples. The sum of €3,510 might be small change in the pocket of the Minister and his colleagues but to people struggling to get their toe on the first rung of the housing ladder it is a devastating blow for which the Minister and his colleagues will never be forgiven.