Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is remarkable. Fine Gael has been in government for a year and a half. It signed a programme for Government 18 months ago that promised a cost-rental and an affordable housing scheme. I have no idea what the Minister means when he says that the LIHAF developments will include affordability. The last time he answered that question he told us that in Dublin, for example, that could mean €320,000, which is clearly not affordable by any measure. While I look forward to the Minister's announcement, Government needs to come forward and say that there is going to be a stream of rental accommodation and a stream of purchase accommodation that is accessible to people on incomes between €35,000 and approximately €75,000 for couples. The Minister needs to tell us exactly how many of those units will be delivered next year and the year after. If he comes back in two or three weeks' time to tell us that this figure amounts to 300 units based on the €25 million, €15 million of which will be spent next year, then that will be a mark of abject failure on his part. Once again he will have let down those working families who are in desperate need of affordable accommodation.

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