Sir, – I am an Irish citizen, originally from Lifford Avenue in Limerick city, and my father’s family come from Co Clare. Like many Irish people who have spent periods of their lives abroad, I have always regarded Ireland as home.I would like to return permanently.But, increasingly, I find myself asking whether Ireland is a country I can afford to come home to.The cost of buying a home is beyond my means, and even renting has become financially prohibitive, if you can actually find a place available to rent.At the same time, we continue to see enormous amounts of capital flowing into Irish residential property. Wealthy non-residents and institutional investors can purchase existing homes and, in some cases, entire apartment developments as investment assets.I have no objection to Ireland welcoming people from abroad who want to live here, work here and become part of Irish society. Nor do I object to foreign investment that actually creates additional housing.But I do question whether, during a national housing crisis, we should allow existing Irish housing stock to be treated as an unrestricted investment commodity.Should someone who needs a home really have to compete against an international investment fund or an extraordinarily wealthy non-resident buyer?Perhaps Ireland should consider a different approach: welcome foreign investment that builds new homes, while placing greater restrictions or taxation on the purchase of existing residential housing by non-residents and large institutional investors.There should also be serious consideration given to the position of Irish citizens living abroad who want to return home. We should not forget that many of us are not choosing to remain abroad because we don’t want to come home. Some of us simply cannot see how we can afford to.Ireland has a housing crisis. That should mean housing policy puts people who need homes ahead of those who simply want another investment.I don’t believe it is unreasonable to ask whether Irish citizens who want to come home should have a fair chance of actually being able to do so.Ireland should be a country its own citizens can afford to come home to. – Yours, etc,Niamh O’Donnell, Naples,Italy.