I want to raise the circumstances of people who signed contracts to purchase houses in Ring Fort housing development in Rathmolyon in County Meath, in some cases three years ago. Ring Fort is a development of 16 houses which is 99% complete. Some of these houses were purchased under the help-to-buy scheme. The development was financed by Home Building Finance Ireland, HBFI. The contractor is Meathamatic Limited, with directors Joe Elias, Mark Flynn and Peter Finn, who resigned his position 12 months ago. The construction company is MDS Construction Limited, with directors Mark Flynn and Peter Finn. Meathamatic is now looking for an additional €60,000 from people who signed contracts, a legally binding agreement. We cannot allow this to happen and set a precedent where, if they are not happy with the price agreed, contractors look for more money when the development is finished. The owners have written to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with no response from any of them. I ask the Government to intervene and assist home buyers who have been held to ransom by the developers in Rathmolyon. It is a disgrace.

That behaviour is unacceptable in terms of the relationship between the developers and those who have purchased the houses. There are clear laws of contract and legal frameworks governing the purchase of houses which should be enforced. I will talk to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of it. However, we always have to be mindful that over recent years the State seems to be the last resort and has to intervene in every bad action or dispute. The law should apply here. We will check it out and I will talk to the Minister in respect of the specific issue. There is a matter of legal obligations that the developer should adhere to. I will follow it up.