Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Most of the Taoiseach's reply, which alluded to building more houses, is probably good news for Paddy the Plasterer but it is not very good news for many house buyers. The reality is that the thresholds are meaningless in many parts of Dublin. One will not get a house for less than the thresholds. I understand the stamp duty take for this year is approximately €70 million in excess of expectations. The Government is raking it in.

About four months ago, I asked the Taoiseach about a similar matter, that is, the famous Report of the Committee on the Price of Building Land, which cost 27.5p in 1973. The committee reported to the then Minister for Local Government. The report was reviewed by the all-party committee in April 2004 and was still found to be necessary. I asked the Taoiseach about it because land prices comprise approximately 45% or 50% of house prices in the Dublin area. Basically builders are walking away with approximately €250,000 before foundations are even laid.

Will the Taoiseach do anything about this matter? When I asked him about it, he said he was and still is in favour of the Kenny report. I asked about the legislation and he said it was being drafted, that he was pressing to get on with it and that he did not agree with me. He said he would try to address the matter over the summer and that he was giving me a serious answer to a serious question. How serious was his answer? The summer is gone and we are still trying to deal with the difficulty posed by house prices. Will he implement properly the recommendations of which he stated he was in favour?

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