Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The reality is, and everybody knows it as the facts are clear; rents have never been higher, house prices has never been higher, homelessness has never been higher and the number of young adults living in their bedrooms in their parents' homes has never been higher. Rates of home ownership have fallen, especially among the younger population. A further collapse in home ownership was not inevitable nor was it an accident. It is the Government continuing to pursue exactly the same policies over and over again.

I am glad the Taoiseach mentioned the Social Democrats' motion tomorrow because we have suggestions in that. I regularly hear the Taoiseach ask in the House that we come forward with suggestions. Part of the motion proposes redirecting funds from the Department to buyers to bring down the price of housing for homeownership rather than putting it into the pockets of developers. That strategy has been failing for years. We have suggested alternatives and we are tabling a motion in the Dáil tomorrow. Will the Taoiseach consider any of them? Given that he has acknowledged that all of the facts I raised are true, will he consider any of the proposals in the Social Democrats' motion tomorrow?

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