Means-tested mortgages - State failing on social housing

SOCIAL Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan has asked officials of his department to examine ways to help low earners get a foot on the property ladder, outside the social and affordable housing schemes run by the Department of the Environment.

He is currently considering the introduction of means-tested mortgage support to help low-income families purchase their own homes in the private property market.

The minister says, for instance, that he has asked his department whether it can come up with some scheme to help young people out by contributing to their mortgages. But he was at pains to stress that he does not want to start a new major scheme, because half the people in the country would like support with their mortgages.