Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister did not answer the question I asked him. Has the Government carried out an independent impact assessment of its first-time buyer's grant initiative? If it has, will it publish it? This is not a help-to-buy scheme but a help-to-sell scheme. That is actually what it is. In the few estates being built in my area starter homes are costing approximately €430,000. Will the Minister indicate to the House that he is confident that the initiative will not lead to house prices increasing further throughout the country? We are certain that it will. The Government has set a ceiling, but it will give a €20,000 rebate on a €600,000 house. We should be seeking to set a cap and looking at construction costs, but the Government has no initiative in that regard. It has done nothing about development levies, certification costs, VAT on construction, off-balance sheet developments and other such matters. It could bring in the credit unions which could fund schemes to build affordable homes, but it has done nothing to stop families from falling into homelessness. The number of home repossessions is increasing day after day and the Government is not tackling the root cause of the problem. Has it had an independent assessment carried out and, if so, will it publish it? Will the Minister indicate to the House that he is confident that this initiative will not lead to further increases in house prices because the Government is not addressing the supply issue?

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