Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

This has been a very lively debate and I welcome the sincere contributions made. While most of them have been made by the Opposition, there has been a meeting of minds on some issues. There is a real need to debate housing and I hope that the Government provides more time to discuss this issue at a later date.

If we had a proper spatial strategy, we could plan the development of our country. If the Government placed industry in the towns around Dublin and around the country, we would be able to build houses for a cheaper price in those areas. The price of housing in Dublin has now gone out of control. What is possible to do in towns in not possible to do in Dublin. A house that cost €300,000 to buy on 1 January 2005 is expected to cost €322,000 by the end of the year. That represents an increase of approximately 7%.

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