Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleagues in putting forward this recommendation. I commend the Minister and the Government on the help-to-buy scheme at a time when criticism is being levelled at the Government regarding its housing policy. We accept we have a road to go on this issue and there are challenges to meet. Up to the end of November, 37,300 help-to-buy claims had been made, of which 36, 500 were approved. That is an extraordinary figure. As Senators Kyne and Byrne said, these are people being helped to get on the ladder and to buy their own home.

It is important to look at the totality of Government housing policy and what is being done in the context of expenditure. A total of €723.2 million has been spent on the help-to-buy scheme and the value of applications approved and pending is of the order of €706.4 million. By any measure, that is an extraordinary amount of money being given by the Government to assist people under the scheme. It is to be commended. Like the previous speakers, I will be a little parochial by referencing the figures for Cork, where 4,789 applications have been made and €99.3 million claimed. If we look at housing policy in its totality, the help-to-buy scheme is an initiative that is helping people. It is central to helping applicants to buy their first home. The scheme is about ensuring we can assist people in that way.

I have a question for the Minster on dereliction and on the living city initiative. I will come back to the latter, which is an initiative I am passionate about in the context of Cork city and particular parts of it. At this time, we have a market that is moving. In my area of Bishopstown, in the estate in which my father lived, there are three houses for sale. These are old houses that need to have their building energy rating, BER, improved and may need to be modernised. It is an old area that would benefit from people moving in and from regeneration. In the past two decades, people have moved out of Bishopstown, which has seen its population base decline. Its demographic is now an older, more mature one. Given its proximity to University College Cork, UCC, Munster Technological University and Cork University Hospital, professional people are looking to purchase properties in the area and there are also people looking to buy properties there to rent out. In that type of settlement area, there is wonderful footfall and access points to the city in terms of road infrastructure and proximity to colleges, schools and healthcare services. It is a great place in which to live and raise a family. However, substantial renovation work would be required on many of the houses in the area. Ballinlough is another example of a similarly mature area but I refer primarily to Bishopstown. I hope the Government will look in time not just at new builds but at the whole issue of the refurbishment of old houses.

The help-to-buy scheme has been a phenomenal success. The number of applicants and the amount of money given is extraordinary. Sometimes, we do not highlight enough the accessibility of the scheme in helping people.