Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will first deal with Deputy Durkan's question. I accept that the lack of affordable housing in our economy and our society not only has a very material effect on the living standards and aspirations of our citizens but it also affects our economy, the wages therein and its competitiveness. I accept the Deputy's point but this is the reason we have such a level of resources going into housing for next year. It is one of the reasons we expect to see well in excess of 20,000 new homes being delivered next year. The balance we are trying to get right is to deliver those new homes without that delivery occurring in such a way that other challenges would be created for the economy.

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