Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for his question. I am conscious that many young people emigrate from Ireland and go to Australia. That happened many years ago as well as now. I am sure, as the Deputy said, many go to try to get accommodation. I would advise that when they get to Australia they will find there is a similar housing issue there. Accommodation costs and the price of housing in Australia are exceptionally high.

The good news, however, is that people are returning. People may go to Australia from Ireland for a number of years to train in the work they do and for enjoyment. In general, a lot of them come back. We have seen that in the recent CSO statistics. Although many thousands leave Ireland each year, similar amounts return having spent a number of years away. Part of the reason for that is that they enjoy the quality of life in Ireland.

I am conscious that the Government has tried to introduce many measures to facilitate the young people the Deputy is talking about. He spoke about cost rental and affordable housing. Another great measure introduced by the Government is one he should tell his constituents about, namely the help to buy scheme. We know that scheme is specifically designed to encourage people who believe that a home may be out of their reach. It helps them to get through the extra required in order to ensure they can gain access to the property ladder.

We know from the latest available data from 30 May 2025 that the help to buy scheme has supported more than 56,000 first-time buyer individuals or couples to buy their own homes. It gives a refund of income tax and DIRT paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to certain limits. I ask the Deputy to inform people who are concerned that they may not be able to purchase accommodation to consider the help to buy scheme.

I also want the Deputy to be aware that 5,400 single one-off houses were approved for planning permission in 2024. I am conscious that the demands on the housing system are significant and severe, but the supply is increasing as time progresses.

The Deputy also mentioned the planning regulator and planning permission. We need to ensure that local authorities are giving planning permission and zoning land. We want to ensure there is enough zoned land available so that houses can be built. We are in the middle of a time when we need to build housing accommodation as promptly as possible. The planning regulator has a role to play in that. As the Taoiseach has stated, local authorities have a very significant role in ensuring adequate and sufficient land is rezoned so that people can build homes and live in the areas from where they came.

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