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

I do not think it is correct to say what the Deputy said about every metric. I will just mention two, as she raised metrics. We anticipate this year between 20,000 and 28,000 new homes being built. That does not include derelict homes being brought back into use and student accommodation. Approximately 26,000 to 28,000 new houses and apartments will be built in Ireland this year. That is the highest in ten years and we need to increase that figure again next year. Although we have a long way to go, the most encouraging metric probably is that in the past 12 months alone 16,000 individuals or young couples have bought their first home. That is the highest in 15 years and 15 years is a long time. Just in the past month, more than 2,000 young people, individuals and couples, got mortgage approval. Those are some of the metrics that are at least going in the right direction, although by no means far enough or fast enough in my view.

I think the Taoiseach is doing an excellent job and I think the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is also doing an excellent job. It is the role of the Taoiseach to co-ordinate and accelerate Government action. I absolutely want to see Housing for All implemented as fast as possible. No matter who is in that office, part of the role of the Taoiseach is to make sure that the whole of government is seized of the housing crisis, and prioritises action and solutions because the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Department cannot do it on their own. It requires the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform, and Finance to do the right things and it also requires other Departments to play the role they need to play, particularly with the provision of infrastructure to service sites. That is the impetus. That is happening and needs to continue.

The Deputy mentioned high rents. We are doing three things on high rents to help people who are renting. First, we are scaling up cost rental, a new form of housing initiated by the previous Government but being realised by this Government, where the Government provides rental properties to people who do not qualify for social housing at below market rate. It works very well in many European cities, but is only getting started in Ireland. It will definitely be part of our housing mix into the future. The second is a tax credit for people who are renting. That will be more than people think it will be because it is being paid for two years - this year and next year. That will mean €1,000 into the pockets of a single renter in a few weeks. For a couple renting it will be €2,000 and for three people sharing the same house, it will be €3,000 among them. In the vast majority of cases, that will be the best part of a month’s rent back into their pockets, which is not insignificant.

We have also introduced the rent pressure zone. It is useful to look at the daft.ieanalysis in detail. That shows that for the vast majority of existing renters - maybe 75% - rents rose by 2.5% last year, not 10% or 14%.

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