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

Since Fine Gael took office in 2011, rates of home ownership have fallen very significantly. To counter this, we need at least 10,000 affordable homes each year. In the first three quarters of last year, fewer than 1,000 affordable and cost rental homes were delivered. At the same time, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is returning hundreds of millions of euro unspent to the central Exchequer. This money could be used to build much-needed affordable homes. Given the scale and depth of the housing crisis, why are hundreds of millions of euro, which could be used to build homes, being returned to the central Exchequer?

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