Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

As we know, the Government is all over the place on housing. As people sleep overnight in their cars hoping to get the chance to buy a home of their own, the Minister for Housing, Deputy James Browne, went on television and admitted the Government's housing plan is failing. He stated that the Government is unlikely to meet its target of 41,000 homes this year and that the ESRI's projection of 34,000 units is more likely. This is a shortfall of 7,000. Of course, missing housing targets is the form of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in government. Rather than misleading the public on housing delivery - which was their tactic during the general election - the Minister, Deputy Browne, is openly admitting that the Government cannot get the job done. It is as simple as that. There are no new ideas, house prices and rents are spiralling and there is record homelessness. Does the Taoiseach now accept, as the Minister has admitted, that the Government's plan is failing and that a major change in direction is needed?

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