Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. With respect, what I have heard is a description of the working group and its work and report. I have not heard an answer. From the Minister of State's reply, I note that the Government is planning to respond and accepts that this issue is not the fault of the homeowners. However, there are homeowners today who are living in apartments with bills sitting on their kitchen tables that they are expected to meet. They cannot draw down finance or borrow. There is no back-up or support. In many instances, the work is not being done, so these people are living in a very precarious situation from day to day.

We need the Government to underwrite advance loans until such time as a grant scheme is put in place in response to the report. An urgent interim response is required. The Government should tell people to go borrow the money and that it will underwrite the loan. In that way, while the response and the scheme is being designed people will have the funds required for the work to continue to be carried out in order that they will be safe in their homes with their children. We need that as a matter of urgency.