Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If it is of help to the Deputy, I note that the programme for Government and the action plan for housing being developed are focused on increasing the supply of housing both in the private and social markets by a combination of all the various arrangements.

2 o’clock

Part of that is ensuring houses are affordable and available to people in the right place, facilitating them where they want to live and work. If it was the case that developers were ripping people off and making a fortune, more than 12,000 houses would have been completed last year and supply would not be an issue. However, it is. There is something wrong across the sector. The aim of the programme for Government and any action plan developed is to find the barriers which are affecting supply across the system, change them and increase the supply of affordable, quality housing to the previous level. That is our sole ambition. It is not to make anyone rich; rather, it is to provide accommodation, which is what every Deputy has been seeking.

The Deputy referred to tax changes and so on. We are committed to considering everything. Everything we believe will help to increase the supply of affordable housing is on the table.

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