Sinn Féin claims blown out of the water over fresh concerns by senior banking figures stating they have “overstated” their position on lending
Ó Broin should correct Dáil record at earliest opportunity
Fianna Fáil candidate for Fingal East and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has called on Sinn Féin to come clean and truthfully answer questions around whether banks would lend mortgages on their convoluted ‘programme of affordable leasehold purchase homes’ scheme, 175 days after serious questions were first raised.
Senior banking figures raised fresh concerns over the weekend, criticising Sinn Féin for “overstating” their position on lending. Banks have not agreed to lend mortgages on the scheme due to outstanding issues, despite claims by Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald and their Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin that the “banks will lend”.
Under the Sinn Féin scheme buyers would not own the land the home is built on and couples on over €90,000 are excluded from applying.
Commenting Minister O’Brien stated: “I first raised serious concerns about the Sinn Fein leasing scheme 175 days ago with a series of written questions to the Party. To this day they still have not replied. Yet time and again, including on the Dáil record, they have reiterated their misleading claims that the banks will lend under this scheme. They have been emphatic about it but now these claims have now been blown out of the water over fresh concerns outlined by senior banking sector members over the weekend.
“What’s worse is that Sinn Féin continue to claim that their housing plan is "ready to go from day one”, a laughable assertion given the very people they need to work with on their scheme have confirmed that all that has taken place is “a generalised discussion on a generalised proposal”.
“It is time Sinn Féin come clean before election day and let voters know the truth. Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin must also commit to correcting the Dáil record at the first available opportunity following his misleading statements on October 22nd.
“I have also very recently called on the Party to explain the €6.1bn hole in their plan but given their inability to answer even basic questions I don’t expect a response. For voters it is important they know there is a gaping hole in the Sinn Féin plan, and in Eoin Ó Broin and Mary Lou McDonald’s credibility,” Minister O’Brien concluded.