Tipperary General Election candidate presents radical new housing plan

One of the primary focuses of Cllr Jim Ryan’s election campaign is the housing crisis.

The current housing crisis is affecting the people of Ireland all throughout the country, and Cllr Ryan, along with former Honorary President of the Tipperary North-Kilkenny Northwest Comhairle Dáil Cheantar Paddy Ryan, have devised a plan to help aid and potentially resolve the matter.

Paddy Ryan stepped away from the Fianna Fáil party after 60 years of service, following disagreements with Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien over this plan, and decided to take it to Cllr Ryan, who backed the idea.

In his resignation, Paddy said: “In its present format for the Shared-Equity Scheme to provide the required amount of houses for a solution to the affordable housing crisis would require an investment per year of over €2 billion, which is not financially affordable.”

The aim of their programme is to ensure that those currently living in privately rented accommodation, or elsewhere, will be able to afford to purchase their own home through government backing.

They claim that some tenants are paying up to 50% of their gross income on rental charges, making it very difficult to save for a deposit for a house. Under this scheme, they aim to bring the deposit amount to 5%, with mortgage repayments not exceeding 25% of their gross annual income.

Under this scheme, if the mortgage goes into arrears for longer than three months, HAP assistance will be offered to the mortgage holder, providing the holder with up to three years of financial assistance.

This scheme comes with no restrictions from the state. The state will only intervene to provide financial assistance.

This works with the help-to-buy scheme, which has been extended until December 31, 2029. This scheme is devised to aid first-time buyers to buy their first home, provided it is valued at no more than €500,000, and the maximum amount of financial assistance that can be provided is €30,000.

Cllr Ryan says that the votes to make home ownership a reality for many who currently cannot buy their own home are with the people, and with the housing crisis being such a major issue currently, he is hoping it is enough to encourage the voters to vote for him.

"This scheme is being put forward in my own constituency of Tipperary North-Kilkenny Northwest by Independent candidate Councillor Jim Ryan for the consideration of the people, and in over 20 more constituents by Independent Ireland party. I will be giving my full support to Councillor Jim Ryan and in other constituencies all the help I can provide to Independent Ireland Party," said Paddy.

Cllr Ryan added: “His housing proposals make common sense and are achievable, and should be a firm part of the next Government housing policy.

"I'm delighted to back it, delighted to have it on my policy for my manifesto for the General Election coming up.”