Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue because housing - the need for people to be able to own their home and the need for people to have affordable access to rental homes - is the number one issue for the Government. This is why the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Government have introduced the Housing for All strategy, which puts in place a very radical set of policies aimed at tackling the core factor driving all of the housing challenges we face, namely, lack of supply. It is not very long ago that the total number of new housing units being built in the country each year was 7,000 to 8,000 per year. Last year, using Housing for All and the policy levers and supports put in place, the Government delivered 30,000 new housing units in the country, which was a 45% increase on the previous year. Unfortunately, it is not possible to solve this problem in a week, in a month or overnight because the key issue is supply, but this Government is doing everything and anything it can to build and drive momentum to ensure new supply and new houses and to work to support people in the rental sector.

On the rental sector, we have taken a number of measures to support tenants. We have capped rent increases in rental pressure zones so they must be no more than 2% per annum, and we have extended rental pressure zones to 2024. Budget 2023 put money back in renters' pockets by reintroducing a tax credit for renters of €500 per renter in 2022 and another €500 credit in 2023. We have also legislated for tenancies of unlimited duration and restricted the level of upfront payments required of tenants, while in the meantime doing everything we can to tackle the core issue, which is supply.

Many of those renting want to purchase their home, but because of the increasing cost of rents, are unable to get the deposit together to be able to do that. This Government has introduced the help-to-buy scheme, which provides a young person or a young couple with the opportunity for the first time in living memory to be able to apply through the Revenue Commissioners to be able to get up to €30,000 to put towards a deposit if they have been working over recent years. It allows them to get back the tax they have already paid so they can put it towards their deposit.

Another support is the first home scheme. In cases where a young person or couple are unable to get a mortgage for the full purchase price of the property, the Government will go shared equity with the person or couple up to 30% per year. Again, this is to help people to be able to purchase a home and to provide support in terms of the supply chain. Regarding vacant or derelict properties in cities, towns and the countryside, somebody can apply for a €50,000 if a property has been vacant for a year or a €70,000 grant if a property is derelict.

These supports I have outlined are not supported by Deputy Ó Broin or his party. Sinn Féin's alternative budget last year would have seen those measures abolished but they are really important when it comes to providing support for those renting to allow them to get the deposit together to be able to buy their home and to drive supply. This Government is doing anything and everything it can to boost and drive supply. There was a 45% increase in new developments last year and, alongside that, significant support for renters as well.

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