Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. I refer to section 2(h) on the shared ownership scheme. I ask the Minister of State to look at that because a reasonable suggestion has been made. In section 3, on page 6, our Bill states that where a residential property is owned by two or more persons those persons shall be jointly liable to pay the household charge. If one takes that logically it would mean that 50-50 ownership is exactly what it says. The owner is both the local authority and the client. A charge of €50 each way would provide an even keel because full ownership is not in question. I ask for the Minister of State's opinion.

The local authorities involved in shared ownership are not taking any of the brunt arising from the depreciation in value of the house. This would be one area in which we could point out the situation of a person who bought, at 50-50 status, in good faith. The value of the house has gone down while the local authority remains a bank in a way, given that the banks are now being asked to take a reasonable line on mortgages. Shared ownership may be a subject for another debate on another day in the House.

In regard to this point, it would be fair if the local authorities were to waive 50%. They are owners. We are dealing with section 2 but section 3 states that where a residential property is owned by two or more persons the local authority owns the house. Therefore, it should pay half the charge.