Saving for a deposit: try it sometime, Leo

THE great Padraig ‘Pee’ Flynn once explained the difficulties to the nation of running three homes off his six-figure salary as European Commissioner. “I wanna tell you something, try it sometime,” he famously declared on ‘The Late Late Show’. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made his own attempt to be hailed as a politician from another planet.

His advice to struggling homebuyers is to suggest that getting money from parents for a deposit is an option.

“It has always been the case that a person needs to raise a deposit to buy a house. People do it in many different ways,” he said.

“Sometimes people go abroad for a period and earn money. Others get money from their parents. Lots of us did. Others get money through other loans. Sometimes people stay at home for a period and raise a deposit in that way.” Maybe lots of ‘us’ did in your case, Taoiseach.

But many more homebuyers don’t have the luxury of being able to turn to the so-called “bank of mum and dad” when putting a deposit together.

Former housing minister and Labour TD Alan Kelly says Mr Varadkar needs to “step back into the real world”.

Fianna Fáil housing spokesman Barry Cowen says the Taoiseach “has put his posh boy credentials on display”.

The Opposition’s sentiments will chime with many of those struggling to get on the housing ladder, who don’t have a wealthy family to turn to for that extra step.

The plight of many young couples is working all the hours that God sends, often on an unstable contract, covering childcare costs, paying exorbitant rents – and trying to save for a deposit on a house.

“I wanna tell you something: try it sometime, Taoiseach.”