Rents in Louth have increased by over 60% since 2012 and jumped a further 4.3% in the first quarter of this year. County Louth has seen the highest percentage increase in rents in the State. The Taoiseach's indifference and lack of action on this is causing untold financial misery and uncertainty and is compounding the homelessness crisis. I have raised this issue with the Taoiseach several times before, so I ask him not to give me his usual spiel in response because it is clearly not working. What plans has the Government set in place to deal immediately with this crisis, which is now at its highest level ever?

I do not accept at all the Deputy's charge of indifference or lack of action. There has never been more action, more focus or more priority attached to the housing problem. The real issue is supply. I read out for Deputy Adams the other day a list of sites in County Louth where construction is under way or about to get under way. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney-----

Rents, Taoiseach.

-----has made an issue specifically of rent and rent increases. The figures published show a decline in the rate of increase in rents in the Dublin area. Yes, in the greater Dublin area there has been an increase. It is all about supply, though, which is why more money than ever before-----

What about the 50,000 empty houses?

-----more incentive than ever before, more opportunity for local authorities and private developers, the purchase of sites, the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and the rent pressure zones-----

The HAP scheme is a disaster.

The HAP scheme is not working.

-----were all introduced after discussion here. However, the real problem is the supply of houses. I remind Deputy Munster again that in the so-called boom years we were building 90,000 houses a year, a rate of building that collapsed to fewer than 9,000 per year.

That must be rebuilt, which does not happen overnight.