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

I have not yet seen the Central Bank report. I believe it was only published in the last hour or so and therefore I am loath to comment on it. We support the shared equity scheme, as one element of our housing policy, because it will help people who are currently renting to become homeowners for the first time. In most cases the mortgages they will pay will be less than the rent they are currently paying. Anything that enables people who are trapped paying very high rents to become homeowners for the first time, often paying a mortgage that is less than the rent they are paying, is a positive development in my view. The main thing we can do to reduce the cost of housing is to increase the supply. We need more supply and I appeal to the Social Democrats to stop objecting to new housing in this city and in other parts of Ireland.

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