Madam, - When did it become a fundamental human right to own a house?
Construction and other lobby groups have suggested that the Government (ie the taxpayers) come up with a scheme to lend deposits to those who haven't been able to save them.
This is exactly the crazy thinking that got the US into the credit crisis in the first place through lending to people who had no business borrowing. So, to ease the current downturn in the construction market, it is proposed to help those who really can't afford to buy houses in the first place, thereby sowing the seeds of our own credit crunch. Why stop at house deposits? What about "soft" loans to buy cars and furniture as well?
Leave the market alone, if people have to rent a bit longer to save a deposit it's hardly a huge hardship. This generation has to learn that the era of instant gratification is over and now it's time to live within their means. - Yours, etc,
CHARLES McLAUGHLIN, Dublin 8.