Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This morning, the Irish Independent reported that one of the authors of the Government's pro-developer shared equity scheme has confirmed that it may push up house prices. Mr. David Duffy, who heads IBEC's Property Industry Ireland, was asked about the scheme and whether it would push up prices. He said it would be something that would contribute to the demand side. This confirms the concerns of the Tánaiste's party colleagues in Dublin City Council, who wrote to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage last month, urging him to scrap this scheme. In their letter, they stated that it is a demand-side measure and risks a return to the failed housing policies of the Celtic tiger era. Does the Tánaiste agree with Property Industry Ireland and the councillors on Dublin City Council that this scheme will push on house prices? Will he support his own party colleagues, including the Minister for Finance's own parliamentary assistant, who have called for this reckless scheme to be scrapped?

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