Purchase of ghost estate not a good deal for taxpayers

Hot on the heels of the “Mortgage to Rent” scheme, that benefits mainly private housing associations and the banks, comes another outrageous case of taxpayers’ money being used to further enrich these associations — and many would argue to the detriment of our community as a whole.

Housing association Respond has bought a ghost estate in Carlow, with no explanation given as to why these houses were not first offered to families to purchase at very favourable prices.

Even in today’s economic climate, there are many who could sustain the mortgage repayments on these very low loans, and what better way to solve the problem of ghost estates than by extending the opportunity to low-income families the great benefits of owning their own home?