Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste. What he does not seem to understand is the KPMG report is based on this Government meeting the targets outlined in its recent housing plan. What the report, which is based on the most up-to-date information from the CSO and ESRI and all the Government's target projections for social, affordable and private housing, is saying very clearly to the Government is that even if all that happens house prices are still going to increase by 25%. I appreciate it is not the Tánaiste's portfolio but I am genuinely surprised somebody who prepares Leaders' Questions did not give him some indication of whether the report is worthy of consideration or not.

The central problem here is the Government is not doing the one thing it needs to do. It is not investing enough in the direct delivery of genuinely affordable homes. Next year, only €130 million will be invested by this Government in affordable homes. Its target is 1,250. We need about 8,000 genuinely affordable homes every year to reverse the trend in this report. It gives me little comfort, and I suspect it gives the people who are desperate to own their own home little comfort, that while the Tánaiste claims to be on their side everything the Government is doing, as confirmed in this KPMG report, shows house prices will continue to rise. Will the Government at least consider reviewing and increasing the direct investment in affordable homes so the paltry targets in its new housing plan can be revised upwards?

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