Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has been told to stop “spoofing” as the Dáil hears first time buyers need up to €77,000 to buy a home.
Minister O’Brien faced a grilling in the Dáil from Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty as he stood in for the Taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions.
Tipperary and Rural Independent TD Mattie McGrath also waded in and said it is “insanity” to hand developers up to €144,000 to provide apartments and said developers and investment funds are the winners out of the housing crisis.
Read More: People most in need over cost of living crisis 'to get further financial support in Budget 2023'
Mr Doherty said people are falling into homelessness and that his housing plan “is not working.”
He said: “Enough of your spoofing, minister.
“House prices are going through the roof and entire generations are locked out of homeownership.
“Under your watch, rents are spiralling out of control and in many counties are increasing dramatically.
“What planet are you living on? Which families and workers can afford that amount of money? And who do you write the cheque to?
“You’re writing to the developers to the amount of €144,000.”
In response, Minister O’Brien said there are affordability issues “no question.”
He added: “That's why we passed the Affordable Housing Act, the most comprehensive piece of legislation on affordability that has ever come before this house, which you support and [you] didn't come up with any alternatives to it.
“We're very, very serious in relation to increasing supply and supply is increasing.
“This year we will see homes sold at €166,000 and upwards right across this country.
“We will be launching for people who are stuck in that rental trap, stuck in that affordability trap, the first home Shared Equity scheme, which is going to help thousands of young and not so young people bridge the gap between the finance that they have and the finance that they need by the state taking an equity not by a second mortgage, as you claimed and as your housing spokesperson claimed last year and you supported the act and I welcome that.”
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
