Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Tánaiste about the increase in house prices and collapse in homeownership levels. House prices have increased by 14% in the past year and homeownership levels have collapsed among people of prime working age. In the early 1990s, two thirds of people were homeowners by the age of 28. Now at that age, people are lucky to have managed to move from their parents' homes. Homeownership levels have collapsed since Fine Gael took office more than a decade ago and although the rate of house building is increasing, there are not more homes available for first-time buyers because new homes are going to investment funds and institutions that charge unaffordable rents. Does the Tánaiste agree the time for the favourable tax treatment of investment funds should be ended to give people who want to buy their own home a fair chance?

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