Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD, responding to the announcement by Finance Minister Noonan concerning a new mortgage deposit scheme, said the Minister was veering into dangerous territory with an ill-thought out policy.

He said the Government is pursuing a potential future mortgage debt crisis, while failing to deal with the current mortgage debt crisis.

Deputy Doherty said: "In the lead–up to the 2007 general election, Sinn Féin was the only party to stand back from the melee of voices in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens calling for bubble type policies such as stamp duty being reduced so more people could buy overpriced houses and get themselves into unsustainable debt.

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"The Minister has proposed a mortgage deposit protection scheme for a coterie of first-time buyers. The scheme is developer, not buyer led. A similar scheme was introduced in Britain, which is seeing rising house prices of on average 5% per year.

"The scheme is dangerously close to initiatives taken in the boom, when people who could not afford huge mortgages were given 100% loans that are now mill stones around their necks.

"It may be a scheme which benefits banks and developers, but if a couple is on average earnings, banks should not be lending to that couple irresponsibly. If that couple ends up in mortgage distress, will the Government be as unhelpful to them as they are to people currently in mortgage distress?

"The answer to the housing and construction crisis lies in a holistic approach of social and affordable house build, along with infrastructure development. It also lies in ensuring that wages reflect the cost of living and jobs are secure."

(CD/MH)