Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I join other Senators in calling for a debate on the affordable housing scheme. While an issue exists in terms of the supply of affordable housing, issues also arise in regard to the objective criteria used. In particular, I am concerned that people whose incomes are below a certain threshold are being excluded. These are the kinds of people we would want to get affordable homes. I am aware of individuals and couples whose incomes are in the region of €30,000 per annum but because the criteria requires a multiplier of four and a half times their salaries, they do not qualify. A salary of €30,000 would mean a total of only €135,000. Unfortunately, there are not enough houses in this price range in the affordable schemes.

In effect, people require an income of between €40,000 and €50,000 to be in a position to get one of these homes. We need to examine this matter seriously because it is the people who are making an effort and living on a relatively low wage, between €20,000 and €30,000, whom we should be trying to assist. We can then consider those in the higher income brackets of up to €60,000, which in this day and age is not an excessive amount of money for a joint application. As well as addressing the issue of supply, we must examine the criteria being used to ensure that whatever way we distribute these houses, it is to the benefit of those most in need.