Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I had reservations that when we were talking about this scheme, were we talking about houses costing €400,000 and €600,000. Like Deputy Boyd Barrett, there would be very little for sale for less than €400,000 or even €600,000 in the council area - the Stillorgan electoral area - I represented before I became a Senator. The fact that people can buy there does not mean they are rich; it just means they have much bigger mortgages than many others and very large obligations on which a lot of their disposable income goes. This needs to be factored in. The cheapest unit in a scheme not very far from me cost €795,000 - it was the cheapest on offer - and I think the units were terraced. We need to look at the scheme. We are not trying to give away millionaire trophy houses. At some point, however, there needs to be an examination of certain areas where supply is tiny but demand is huge and some people have access to borrowing. I think we need to take that on board. I rarely agree with Deputy Boyd Barrett about anything but he has a point on this issue.