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

The figure the Taoiseach gives of 40,000 homes is disputed by the ERSI and the Central Bank. We know commencements are one thing and completions are another thing altogether. For the first six months of this year, completions are down nearly 10%. That is the reality. He mentioned the help-to-buy scheme. On this, the ESRI has stated that if this scheme was scrapped, house prices would fall. While we can all understand it can feel really supportive in that moment when house prices are so high to get that grant, it is a sad indictment of this Government that this is really the only defence it has when the ESRI has said removing it would bring down house prices.

People watching at home can see the Taoiseach is just not answering my straightforward questions. Instead, we just get deflection and spin. The facts are actually clear. Median house prices are soaring by more than €20,000 a year and listening to the Taoiseach, you would swear that was evidence of a plan that is working. Is that what he is saying to people when he meets them at the doors? The people I meet are completely fed up, exhausted and they are giving up on ever being able to buy a home in this country. This is the record of the Government and, as I said, that record will be on the ballot. At the very least, for people to think the Government would accept its policy is driving house prices might give some hope that it would be able to address it. Does the Taoiseach at least accept that the Government's approach has failed? Not introducing a vacancy tax with teeth-----

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