Rory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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I will see how many of my questions I can get through in five minutes. My first question is on affordable purchase housing and home ownership rates among young people between the ages of 25 to 29. Less than one quarter of people in that age group own their own home and there is no real sign of that changing. My question is on the lack of ambition in increasing home ownership and what is set out in the Estimates and potentially a new housing plan. This is particularly relevant in Dublin. Just 40% of the new homes that were built last year were bought by a home buyer. We need a new approach. How will the Minister ensure there will be a significant increase in homes for sale for people, particularly in Dublin? On additional funding, I have put across the idea of the homes for Ireland State savings scheme. Professor Michelle Norris and others support it. Is that a potential area for additional funding for affordable housing? Affordable housing can provide a revolving fund. It does not require the same level of funding on an ongoing basis as social and cost-rental housing. If we started to deliver affordable purchase on a much greater scale, that could provide a revolving fund that does not need the same level of funding.