Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien has said the Sinn Féin ‘alternative homes plan’ raises more questions than it answers.
Minister O’Brien said the 14-page document lacked any new ideas and any detail on existing proposals.
He said the failure to mention the Help-to-Buy, the First Home Scheme and the Vacant and Derelict Property Grant, which are key supports for First-Time Buyers and those seeking a fresh start, was further proof of the Party’s plan to take the legs out from under prospective buyers. These schemes combined are assisting more than 50,000 families and individuals in their home ownership journey.
He criticised the salary cap proposed for the affordable leasehold purchase scheme saying it would mean two full-time workers on the average wage would be excluded.
He also queried the support for the development levy waiver which Sinn Féin propose to maintain in this current plan despite criticising it in April when the housing spokesperson claimed it did not have any impact on housing affordability.
Commenting he said, “The document published today is really very weak. There was absolutely no detail in it and a complete failure to answer even basic questions. What we do know from it is that the ‘affordable leasehold purchase scheme’ is not home ownership, and worse still, they have not confirmed with commercial lenders that it’s actually possible.
“As well as that, it’s an exclusionary scheme. A Garda and a teacher on point five of their respective salary scales would not be eligible for apply for these homes. Unlike the Government schemes which contain no arbitrary salary caps.
“It’s clear from this document that the Sinn Féin ‘alternative homes plan’ is built on foundations of sand,” he concluded.
ENDS