Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think we all have a bit of a bone to pick today. I welcome the fact that €17 million has been paid out so far as part of the new help-to-buy scheme. It is a great scheme. As we all know, it is for first-time buyers, whether it be to build one's first house or to buy a new house or apartment, provided one is going to live in the property. It is an excellent scheme. It provides for a refund of one's taxes paid over the previous four tax years. The rebate depends on how much one has worked over the four years and, as we are all aware, €20,000 is the maximum rebate. However, the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has said that if he is elected leader of Fine Gael, he will consider getting rid of this new scheme. I would have massive concerns about that. It is part of his programme. The €17 million paid out is helping people who do not qualify to be placed on the local authority housing list and who are trying to get on in life and better themselves. I, therefore, ask the Leader to go back to the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and ask him not to get rid of the scheme.

I have just been at a meeting about disability. It is sad to think that people with a disability in the survey done in February have been suffering more over the past few years and are now further in poverty. I will also have to address this with the Minister.