Several examples of Cavan people falling through the gaps of all the Government's housing schemes has been highlighted in the Seanad. Sinn Féin senator Pauline Tully cited real-life examples of how Cavan constituents' efforts to get on the property ladder have been stymied by red tape and regulation.
In one instance, she told the story of a Cavan couple and their four children whose landlord wanted the house they were renting for over 11 years back for his son returning from abroad. Their combined income including the working family payment totalled €43,500 but the threshold for the social housing payment is €31,500.
When they applied for the local authority loan they were told they only qualified for a house valued - at most - €132,500, which, Senator Tully said would be difficult to find given the size of their family. She said the working family payment was not taken into consideration for this application which needs to be "looked at".
Then she spoke about Cavan couples who, out of necessity, moved into derelict properties but were then refused the vacant property grant. And finally, the Seanad was told about a video Senator Tully was sent showing 22 unoccupied house in Ballinagh (listen below):
