Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The rent index is designed to measure developments in rental prices faced by those taking up new tenancies. A tax credit would only add to the price of those rents. It would be inflationary. There is no guarantee it would result in a reduction of increasing rents for new tenancies, none whatsoever. The Deputy is wrong in saying the Housing for All policies are not working. By definition, 35,000 commencements to March is the highest rolling 12-month average since 2008. There is a lot of activity in the construction sector. A lot of houses are being built in the private sector and through social housing, cost rental and a number of other schemes. Through the shared equity scheme and various other schemes we have introduced, we will help those buying new houses. The Deputy opposed the help to buy scheme. She was against it. That was designed to help thousands of young people to buy their homes. I do not know why she opposed it but she did.

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