Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The question I ask is what this scheme says to generation rent, the generation of young people who are completely priced out of the housing market. They are watching the Government hand over €450 million to private developers. What hope do they have of ever owning their own home when, in many cases, 60% of their income goes on rent? How could they possibly save for a mortgage? They are being squeezed out of the market in a time of rising living costs. The average citizen is struggling with energy costs. The response of the Government is to give €200 to help with electricity or other energy bills. When the private developers run into a cost-of-living crisis, however, they are given €144,000 per apartment.

The Minister talked about supply. What kind of supply? It is supply that people cannot afford, supply that traps them permanently into renting when, in fact, they want a choice that gives them longer-term sustainability.

A poll conducted by Amárach Research featured on the "Claire Byrne Live" television programme this week.

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