Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----because they do not see an increase but people who have to rent for the first time can run into real difficulties and that is why we think that is a policy that could indeed be counterproductive.

Let us talk about what the solutions actually are. The main solution has to be supply. Ultimately there has to be enough places for people to rent. To do that, we must increase the supply of social housing for people who are on the housing list, getting them out of private rented accommodation, off HAP and rent supplement and into social housing. Some 10,000 new social homes were provided this year, more than any year of this decade. We are ramping it up as quickly as we can with 11,000 next year, 12,000 the year after and 60,000 over the next five years. Of course, there is a need for increased provision of private homes because people want to buy their own home. They also want to be able to rent out a home. We see now from the numbers that came out yesterday a big increase in commencement notices and planning permissions so a very strong pipeline is coming beyond that. What we see unfortunately, though, is some people, in particular local authorities, voting down proposals for new housing.

As regards the Deputy's party, the truth hurts, and then they start shouting, but I will be heard.

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