Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his directness. He might tell me what he disagrees with because I have highlighted some of the things said by the ESRI. It said that without significant investment, another decade of inadequate housing supply, upward rents and upward costs of houses is looming.

It sets out that one in three households that was not in receipt of housing supports was in trouble prior to the pandemic. It was paying so much on rent, mortgages, etc. It said that if we borrow at very low rates and build houses, it could reduce Government expenditure. I want to correct something I said. The ESRI told us that the HAP is €1.4 billion in total. That is the cumulative cost to date and rising. Does the Minister disagree with any of that? If he does, what is his solution to homelessness, which is costing a huge amount, to HAP, to the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and so forth? What is his solution? Are they just inevitable by-products of his ideology?

See this speech in context