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

My generation is the first to be worse off than our parents. A new report from the CSO helps to explain why. It all comes down to housing. In 1973, average house prices were four and a half times the average salary. Today, they are more than seven times higher. Wages have increased too but not enough. Wages are 21 times higher than they were in 1973 but house prices are 35 times more expensive. In five decades, house prices have increased at three times the rate of inflation. The fact is that it has never been harder for people to own their own homes. Many now have lost all hope that they ever will and have lost all confidence in this Government because the affordability gap keeps increasing on its watch. Average house prices today are €66,000 higher than they were when this Government took office in 2020. House prices have more than doubled in the decade during which Fine Gael has been in power. Home ownership rates have collapsed. I want to ask what the Taoiseach will do about it but, unfortunately, he still needs to accept that his approach is failing. Does he accept that?

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