Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

If the answer is "zero", will the Minister just say it? Is he embarrassed or ashamed? I would be if I was sitting where he is but I do not think the Government knows any shame.

The answer is "zero". As we are here this morning, the average rent in north County Dublin is €2,223. The Minister might tell me who is going to be able to afford that rent because people on an ordinary income simply cannot. Even if they could scrape together all of that money, they would absolutely never be able to save for a deposit on a house because to the Minister's mind, an affordable house is more than €500,000.

If the answer is "zero" for the past five years with regard to cost-rental homes for Balbriggan, one of the fastest growing towns in this State, the Minister should at least have the decency to be honest with me and my constituents and tell them the figure is zero. He can ramble on about the Balbriggan strategy, Quay Street and all of that. We are well aware of that. We know that. I asked the Minister a very specific question and I am seeking a fairly specific answer.

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