Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that government policy is pushing house prices up to unsustainable levels.

The Dublin Mid-West TD’s comments were made in response to the Q2 2024 Daft.ie house price report, which showed house prices rising by almost 7% in the year and 35% since the onset of the pandemic.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“House prices are continuing to spiral out of control. The latest Daft.ie house price report shows that average prices were up almost 7% statewide in the year to June. Since the onset of Covid-19 house prices have jumped a staggering 35%.

“Average house prices now stand at €340,398. But in Dublin City, the average price of a home is €453,672, up almost 5% in the year.

“In Cork City prices are up 9%, Limerick and Galway cities up over 12% and Waterford City up almost 10%.

“Government policy is pushing house prices up to unsustainable levels. Their affordable housing targets are too low and are not being met. Worse still, too many of the homes delivered under these schemes are simply not affordable.

“The number of new homes coming to the open market has flatlined as investor incentives continue to drive the build-to-rent sector. Working people don’t need more expensive rental apartments. They need good quality homes at prices they can afford.

“The longer Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are in government, the more expensive house prices will get.

“We need a general election, a change of government and a Sinn Féin housing plan that will deliver the volume of genuinely affordable homes that working people need.”