Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has come under fire on social media for saying that getting money from parents is one way to help people looking to gather a housing deposit who are feeling the financial strain.
Responding to questions from the Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin in the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar said: "lots of us did."
He was discussing public interest in the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme when he suggested that those attempting to get on the property ladder should seek financial assistance from their parents or failing this, should move abroad to save the funds.
Howlin mentioned people facing the "hopeless task" of gathering significant deposits, saying that even the to Government's new mortgage scheme for first-time buyers is asking too much.
"How are the people, the very people who are being refused mortgages by banks and building societies - how are they supposed to be able to afford to pay exorbitant rent and at the same time save 20,000 or 25,000 as a deposit? That's a hopeless task to put to them," he said.
The Taoiseach then suggested getting money from parents as one way to get a deposit together, reiterating that it was "one of many ways" people raised funds for housing deposits.
"It's always been the case that to buy a house you need to raise a deposit. People do it in many different ways," he said. "Sometimes people go abroad for a period and they get money, they get money from their parents as lots of us did. They get money through other loans, sometimes (they) may stay at home for a period and raise a deposit in that way."
While his comments may ring true for many - perhaps some did have to ask their parents for a loan, everyone likely knows at least someone who has been able to do this and paid their parents back - Varadkar's comments haven't gone down well with the general public, looking at social media.
#LeoVaradkar say's people need to go abroad first to earn enough to put down a deposit to buy a house...he's right cause the zero hour min wage "republic of opportunity " he rules over isn't fit for purpose or the bank of Ma and Da isn't there for everyone #muppet @FineGael
— Bear #freePalestine (@bearyear) January 23, 2018
I asked my Dad last night for a deposit for a house, he hasn’t stopped laughing since, still sniggering into his porridge right now @campaignforleo #leovaradkar #housedeposit #comedy
— jason byrne (@thejasonbyrne) January 24, 2018
Last year, Bank of Ireland were forced to pull a campaign which suggested that adult children should rely on their parents for financial support, as it sparked a similar outrage.
