Fianna Fáil has accused Sinn Féin of “pulling the rug” from under first-time home buyers.

This accusation is over plans by the main opposition party to scrap the Help to Buy scheme, if they form a Government.

Social Democrats Candidate Rory Hearne, Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson and General Election Candidate Eoin Ó Broin, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Fianna Fáil TD Darragh O'Brien and Green Party Spokesperson on Finance and Health and TD Neasa Hourigan joined The Hard Shoulder today for a debate on housing.

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said the potential "scrapping" of scrap the Help to Buy scheme is a “concern” for voters.

“I know first time buyers who I meet, and potential first time buyers, are very worried by the prospect of, on average, €100,000 in support, between the Help to Buy grant, the First Home Scheme, actually being removed,” he said.

"Home ownership has plummeted"

Sinn Féin's Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has defended the parties policy to phase out the support over a number of years.

Deputy Ó Broin said the scheme has contributed to the increase in house prices.

“[We will] gently phase out Help to Buy – so, for example, in the first year, people will still get their €30,000 grant,” he said.

“In year two and year three we will reduce it by €6,000 as part of a measure to bring houses down.

“Look at Fianna Fáil’s record in the last 30 years, home ownership among the 25 to 35 year-olds has plummeted.”

Rental sector

Elsewhere, Threshold is calling for a new national private rental sector strategy, in the term of the new government.

The charity has launched its annual report, outlining it helped almost 19,000 households last year, including over 15,500 children, and it closed nearly 6,000 cases where households were at risk of becoming homeless.

Threshold CEO John Mark McCafferty said the rental sector needs to be more of a focus for the government.

“There is an ongoing housing challenge for whoever gets into government after this election,” he said.

“That's why we are calling for a new national private rental sector strategy, which seeks to deliver change, positive change, for people who rent or people who are trying to access rental housing.”

More General Election coverage to come…

Split image: R, Darragh O'Brien, L, Eoin Ó Broin.