John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are all very aware of rising fuel costs. That is why, as a Government, we made the decision in budget 2022 to increase the fuel allowance immediately by €5 a week for 28 weeks. What may have been missed by some people is the increase in the income threshold for the means test, from €100 to €120, as of 1 January 2022. This will enable many more people to qualify for what is a very important payment.

I spoke earlier in a Commencement matter debate on disablement benefit and the fact that it is a disqualifying payment for the fuel allowance. This issue must be addressed. We must also ensure that those in receipt of the carer's allowance, particularly those on the half-rate payment, who meet the means-test requirements under the increased income threshold of €120 are paid the fuel allowance.

Yesterday, I spoke about the €1.8 billion hole in the Opposition's alternative budget in relation to housing and its claim that it could build 20,000 public homes at a cost of €3 billion. A primary school child could tell us that €240,000, which is the average cost of providing a social home in Ireland, multiplied by 20,000 is €4.8 billion. That leaves a €1.8 billion hole in the Opposition's calculations. It would be appropriate if we could schedule a debate in the House on affordable housing policy so that Opposition parties and those of us in government could outline what each of us is proposing. Under the Housing for All plan, the Government intends to introduce two affordable schemes next year, the first home scheme and the local authority affordable purchase scheme, both of which are based on an equity model wherein the State will take an equity stake in the property being purchased to bridge the gap between the cost of the home and what has been approved in the mortgage.This contrasts greatly with what the Opposition is proposing in that you will get a mortgage for €200,000 to pay off over 20 to 30 years but you will never own the land on which the house is built and you will be restricted in terms of whom you can sell the property on to. My constituents and the people who I speak to tell me they want support to get on the property ladder and they are in favour of an equity stake being taken in the house but they do not want to be restricted in who they can sell that property on to in the future and they do not want a hold over the land on which the house is built. I would welcome a realistic debate on this issue in the House.