Mr. John Hogan:

I am conscious of two things. The first is that the changes the Central Bank is implementing now will aid people who are trying to buy their first home because there will be an additional capacity to borrow. Second, I reiterate that capacity to borrow has to be matched by a sustainability to meet the mortgage repayments. We are conscious of the pressures that are on households. From a policy perspective, the Deputy will be aware that a €500 rent credit has just been implemented in the rental sector. We have not had a system for renters in the tax code for quite some time. That has been implemented. There is a range of additional measures, such as the shared equity or help to buy schemes, that are there are there to support and enhance the ability of people to move to purchasing their first homes.