Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy well knows, as a former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the debate around the choices for a budget generally happen around budget day. There are all sorts of speculation and kite flying, mainly not from Ministers but from other people trying to provoke a response from the Government to get an idea what is and is not going to happen on budget day. I suspect this is another example of that.

Undoubtedly, the budget will be focused on housing and trying to help increase supply. The Government has committed a significant amount of capital resources to driving supply, and it is working. We have changed the planning system, and it is working. We have changed our approach towards student accommodation, and it is working. We are seeing a dramatic increase in supply of all types of housing, namely, affordable, social, student and others. That needs to continue and to accelerate to deal with the housing crisis and pressures that we have.

That goes for vacant sites and properties too. That is why we are introducing a vacant site levy which will increase after the first year. It will be a real driver to ensure sites are not purchased to be held on to for the medium term in a speculative way but, instead, will be used to deliver housing. I will not confirm or deny any decisions the Minister for Finance will propose to Cabinet. I certainly have not had any discussion on the issue that the Deputy raised. I suspect there will be much debate and speculation in advance of budget day. I am confident we have a Minister for Finance who is cautious, informed and will not do anything that would damage the property market but will, instead, focus on sustainable ways of increasing supply at the pace we need.

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