Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

I think the Tánaiste has been at the Cabinet table for nearly a decade, nine years or so. In that period, the average house price has increased by €200,000 which a huge sum of money for any family. That is just the increase for a new home since the Tánaiste took up office around the Cabinet table. Indeed in the last five years, the average house price increased by €100,000. Every five years the price of housing has gone up by €100,000 under his Government. Is it any wonder that there are now 100,000 Irish-born people in Australia? Is it any wonder that so many people do not feel their future is in this country when they cannot afford a house anymore? Young people are struggling to put a roof over their heads and finding that prices are just running out of control. They then see that the Government delivered fewer houses last year than in the previous year. Does the Minister accept that the Government's housing plan has failed young people and those who want to get a roof over their head, in terms of affordability? Does he accept that it is actually going in reverse in delivering houses as testified by the numbers from the CSO which show the Government delivered fewer houses last year and is on course to do the same again this year?

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