McGrath; Michael:

As Minister for Finance, I will of course be part of all of the discussions on what we are doing and what more we need to do in Government to tackle the housing crisis. I am a member of the Cabinet committee on housing and contribute to that on an ongoing basis. I also did so in my previous role. It is true that it is not all about money. The planning reforms the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is bringing forward are vitally important and I hope the House and relevant Oireachtas committee will co-operate and provide their support and input into them. There are capacity constraints across the industry and also labour shortages across different specialisms that we are well aware of.

The Deputy mentioned tax. We have used tax in a different way, through the residential zoned land tax and the vacant property tax. We are using the taxation system, where we deem it appropriate, to help bring vacant stock back into use or make land available that is intended or earmarked for residential development.

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