Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I rise for the second time to ask the Minister to answer the questions I put. Deputy McGrath has just repeated them. What is the cost of this measure? How many individuals does the Minister expect to avail of this measure? There are obviously existing tenants and landlords who will be able to avail of this, so what will be the cost? Has there been any examination of the knock-on effects on the rental property market?

I very much regret bringing a tear to Deputy Durkan's eye earlier, but I was just rubbishing Deputy Rabbitte's point by putting on the record of the House - I was not saying it was good, bad or indifferent - the indisputable fact covering five Governments, including the current one, which only completed 1,270 houses in the past five years. The Deputy focused on the boom period, but let us compare that with the time between 1992 and 1996, which saw 10,600 homes built. I recognise that there are different economic circumstances to consider, but the Deputy should not peddle the spin that this is the biggest house-building programme in the history of the State.

I thank the Minister for the clarification regarding subdivision. My particular questions are how many individuals are expected to participate and whether there has been any analysis. Will the Minister commit to doing a quick follow-up analysis? As I noted, the half-baked attempt at dealing with rising rents certainty had a major detrimental effect for many renters by pushing up rents over a very short period. Will the Minister commit to this? He is giving a three-year commitment for landlords, with a possible three years afterwards. It is difficult to swallow because there is no other solution. I agree that we cannot go to Aldi and get 10,000 houses, but the Government has been in office for five years. This Finance Bill gives €180 million in tax breaks to the top 14% of earners but the Government will not put bricks and mortar on the ground to build houses. That is the problem.

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