Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This issue was discussed at some length on Committee Stage when the Minister, in response to amendments tabled by me and other Deputies, gave a commitment to carry out an impact assessment of the help-to-buy scheme. I expressed the view on Committee Stage that an impact assessment should have been carried out in advance of the roll-out of the scheme. In view of the failure to do so, an impact assessment should be carried out now. We proposed that an independent impact assessment be completed by the end of next September and should be carried out at arm's length from the Department and the Government in general. It should examine the impact of the scheme on house prices, the supply of new homes and the property market generally. I am sure the commitment the Minister gave in this regard will be honoured and look forward to seeing the outcome of the impact assessment in due course.

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