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SIMON HARRIS HAS said his party will not go into government with anyone who wants to scrap the Help-to-Buy and First Home Schemes.
The Taoiseach was responding to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns who said that the government’s housing policy has resulted in house prices increasing by 10% nationally.
With an election due to be called in the coming weeks, political parties are drawing division lines on a number of issues, with the Taoiseach appearing to draw a red line today on one matter:
“If I’m to be in the next government, the Help-to-Buy scheme is staying, it’s absolutely staying.
“If you want to get rid of it, and if you want to tell the people who are processing their applications, probably right now with banks across the country, that you’re in favour of getting rid of it, fair play, that’s your position.
“It’s not mine. And I won’t go into government with anybody who doesn’t keep it. It needs to be kept, as does the First Home scheme. Both of them need to be kept.”
Harris said the grants were helping bridge the gap between what they can afford and the cost of buying a home.
However, Cairns argued that the average house prices in Ireland were at €345,000 and “a staggering” €462,000 in Dublin.
Cairns said that as soon as people think they have saved enough of a deposit to buy a home, “the goalposts shift” and “people are losing hope”.
“A vote for this government will be a vote for record house prices, record rents, record homelessness and over half a million adults living in their childhood bedrooms.”
Under the Social Democrats’ plan, Cairns said three-bed homes could be delivered in Dublin for less than €300,000 per year and prices would be below €260,000 in the rest of the country.
She added: “Taoiseach, do you think house price increases of more than €20,000 per year are sustainable or affordable in any way, and do you accept the Government policy is driving record house prices?”
Harris defended the government’s handling of housing and said the two schemes for first-time buyers were “making a very significant difference” to “bridge the gap”.
The Help-to-Buy scheme offers grants of up to €30,000 to buy a new-build home worth up to half a million euros.
The First Home scheme, also called the shared equity scheme, sees the government and a bank pay up to 30% of the cost of a first-time buyer’s new-build home in return for a stake in it.
Harris defended the government’s housing record, stating that 500 first-time buyers are buying their own home every single week.
“So when we look at headline house figures, that doesn’t tell the full story because we are intervening in terms of a level of subsidy that is without precedent in this country.”
Cairns responded: “Median house prices are soaring by more than 20,000 euro a year, and listening to you, you’d swear that’s evidence of a plan that’s working.”
While Harris has said that the scrapping of the housing policies would be red lines for the Fine Gael party going into government with certain parties, Cairns said last week that her party’s red line is that the next government must have a dedicated Minister for Disabilities.
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has also moved to create clear space between his party and his government colleagues.
O’Gorman said public transport has been the “poor relation” in Ireland for too long, making the point that only the Greens can be trusted to continue the recent investment in projects such as Dart+, Metrolink, and the roll out of new Dart carriages.
Speaking about the extension of the Luas to Finglas by 2031, O’Gorman said the Green Party has “absolutely prioritised investment in public transport over the last four and half years”.
“For too long public transport was the poor relation of transport focus here in Ireland. The Green Party have changed that, and one of the key cases we’ll be making in the upcoming general election is that if you want to see continued investment in public transport, it’s really important to have Greens in the next Government,” he added.
With reporting by Christina Finn
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He’s an incredible athlete.
The country is proud.
The arrogance from the RTE studio prior to race was stomach churning, “he’s going to blow them out of the water”, “this is really about 2nd and third”, he’s going for the world record etc etc, no respect for the other athletes. Reminded me of how we were going to win the rugby world cup according to some. A little humility seems to be scarce in Ireland when the economy is booming. Wiffin is a class athlete, is olympic champion and why RTE surround him with their arrogance I don’t know and does him no favours or service.
@Eddie Garvey: Well said.
@ecrowley ecrowley: OMG Eddie you couldn’t have put it better
@Eddie Garvey: I remember when people used to give out the British media.A little bit of success and we show some horrible tendencies of arrogance.
@Eddie Garvey: thought rte where going to blow their trousers the way they where going on….its sport anything can happen and may the best man win
@Eddie Garvey: RTE us a pathetic and egotistical entity that’s recently been effectively given a massive bailout. they’re unaccountable, Kevin doesnt give a rip about the Irish people, there was no major demonstration held to oppose them.
How are we supposed to stop an organisation like them if people are so docile? people need to wake up and accept that they’re as bad as the bbc.
@Eddie Garvey: It makes no difference to him as it is nothing to do with him. Some of the pundits/commentators are delusional but you seem to get that with the broadcaster from every country. They can see nobody else other than their guy. It’s not unique to Ireland. What does the economy have to do with anything also? lol.
@John Moore: with rte its pure dung…they had him to win before the race started…i wouldnt listen to them at all cause in a day they will put u in jail for not paying d tv license
@Eddie Garvey: Spot on Eddie ,they totally lost the run of themselves ,I’m old enough to remember a time at Olympics when we were grateful that none of our Swimmers drowned .
@Eddie Garvey: Well said Eddie. Tge commentators now are beginning to sound like the brits at every major tournament. It’s disgusting
Fantastic athlete! Onwards & Upwards!! #COYBIG!
A bit of humility will serve him well : if he matures he will double gold in LA
@Sergio Reddan: ‘Humility’ The buzz word of the night in some quarters. The meaning of which … the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others…. The kinda attitude that makes World & Olympic champions for sure…
@Sergio Reddan: Confidence is what Irish Athletes need. The 100 maters men’s final was brimming with it last night. You have to believe in yourself, and Daniel and Rhys have it in spades. Stop the put downs. A Bronze in the Olympics games is magic.
Before dressing this article, I was thinking the same.
The two most dangerous expressions in sport are ‘it’s in the bag ” or “it’ll be a walkover”. He’s young enough to learn from this.
I wonder if the result would have been different if his coach hadn’t gone home earlier.
@Paul Moore.
Daniel is an amazing athlete. You think he has done something wrong with having self belief. He won Bronze, and that is no mean thing.
His confidence and belief in his own ability is so refreshing in an Irish Athlete.
The albatross will rise again for sure.
@Phillip Smyth: You’re really determined for him to be called The Albatross
@Don Johnson: love to see him swimming to that tune by Fleetwood Mac.
@Phillip Smyth: you seem to be worryingly obsessed with him to be honest, all day yesterday and now this morning
Legend
Will never win the 1500m as long as Finke keeps competing
@Means Of Escape: What. He’s 31, Daniel is only 23, and his time will come. If only the Irish can have some belief in our athletes and stop the knocking.
@Annette: Bobby Finke is 24 – he led from the off point.
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