Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will raise two items today. Vulture funds or investment funds are coming to Ireland and purchasing new homes en bloc. We have learned that 282 properties under construction in Citywest have been put up for sale en masseto appeal to these large funds. This is not the only deal that has been packaged in this way. Last month an investment company snapped up 118 family homes in north County Dublin in a single transaction with a builder. Other jurisdictions, for example New Zealand, have brought in measures to curb foreign investors from coming in and depriving first-time buyers of the chance to purchase affordable homes. Jacinda Ardern's Government banned foreigners from purchasing properties in New Zealand, with the exception of Australians, to make it easier for Kiwis to buy homes and to stop speculative investment. Germany is considering whether landlords with more than 3,000 units should be banned from operating in the cities. These are radical proposals but I believe we have to do something to stop investment funds from coming in and acting in this way. They are depriving young couples and young families of the opportunity to purchase homes. It is a relatively recent phenomenon.

The second issue I wish to raise is the fact that today is Autism Awareness Day. Autism affects one in every 65 people in Ireland. It is not a disease, and it cannot be cured. I would like to put on record my support for the Dublin 12 campaign for autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes and inclusion. There is a serious lack of services for our children and adults with autism in Dublin 12. I am working with one mother of a non-verbal seven year old who is trying to get her child into a full-time school placement. She has been doing this despite making many appeals to the Department of Education and Skills, in which she has been successful. However, there is still no place available for this child. She is one of many mothers in Dublin 12 who is fighting for a place for her child in a school with an ASD unit or in a special needs-type school. There is a serious lack of placements for children with autism in the Dublin 12 catchment area. Today, along with my colleague, Senator Devine, I joined the Dublin 12 group in Crumlin village in an effort to create awareness of the group and the absolute lack of placements and facilities for these children. I ask that the Minister for Health would meet this group to discuss the lack of services, an ASD unit and a special school for children in Dublin 12.