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

The Taoiseach was asked a simple question, which he did not answer. Did the Minister for Finance share with him the analysis from the Department of Finance that the 40,000 homes claim was not going to materialise last year? Did he share that analysis with the Taoiseach before the election date? The Taoiseach might answer this question because he has been asked twice and he has not answered it. The Taoiseach promised that 40,000 homes would be delivered last year, and we know that just 30,300 homes were delivered. Last week we learned that the number of planning permissions collapsed by almost 22% in 2024. Today the Central Bank is telling us the Government will miss its housing targets for the next three years. We also learned today that house prices have increased by 8.1% over the past year. Instead of accepting responsibility for this during these questions, what we have heard from the Taoiseach today is spin, bluster, deflection and accusing the Opposition of engaging in propaganda, when he is the one who told the electorate that 40,000 homes would be delivered last year.

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