Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone back. It is good to see Senators back after the recess.

I wish to raise a few items with the Leader. In regard to the proposed new rules on deposits for residential mortgages, which have not been formally announced but have been discussed, and in respect of which Professor Honohan of the Central Bank seems set on sticking to a 20% minimum deposit requirement, Fianna Fáil has made submissions, as I imagine the Leader's party has, on the impact of the rule. We believe such a requirement would be using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and that we should be examining salary multiples and the affordability of mortgages. To take the example of a house in Dublin valued at €200,000, which would be below the market average in most parts of Dublin, this requirement means that the purchaser would require a deposit of €40,000, which would put people out of the market. It would be more reasonable for the deposit requirement to be 12%. People talk about the Central Bank being independent, and it is, but it should live in the real world. Are we going to condemn people to paying exorbitant private rents? The rental market throughout the country is extremely difficult. We have seen rents increase by 20%, 30% and 40%, and they are still increasing. If the Government proceeds with the introduction of a 20% minimum deposit requirement, home ownership will be put out of reach of the vast majority of young people. While we have discussed that issue here, I would like to hear a view from the Government - from the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. There should be a further discussion on this in the Seanad before a decision is made on it.

I wish to raise a specific issue with the Leader which I intend to raise as a Commencement matter. I am aware the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, will come to the House this afternoon. I wish to alert colleagues to a problem with breast prostheses for ladies who have had mastectomies. They have an entitlement to breast prostheses and surgical bras. In parts of Dublin, in particular in area 8, people have been waiting since September for breast prostheses and surgical bras. A total of 91 women in area 8 have not even got approval for same. The cost of a mastectomy prosthesis is €68.50. In Cork, the application period for a mastectomy prosthesis takes about two days and there are no waiting lists. Most of us understand that following such a severe procedure it is important for people who are entitled to treatment to get the service they need whether they have medical cards or not. When my party leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, was Minister for Health, he introduced an entitlement under a HSE scheme to breast prostheses, surgical bras and swimwear, but that is not the case at the moment, although it is important for the many women concerned. In most areas in Dublin people are waiting three to four months. According to the HSE, it does not having funding for the service in Dublin yet it has funding available in Cork. I cannot understand how that could be allowed to happen. It is another example of very poor management within the HSE. Surely it should be a standard process, but that is not the case. I will raise the matter on the Commencement debate but I ask the Leader to raise the matter with the Minister for Health. My colleagues will raise the matter with him later this afternoon.