The latest ESRI report indicates that house prices could rise by 20% over the next three years. Meanwhile rent has also increased by 11% in the year to September, according to daft.ie. We all know that not enough homes are being built. However, we also need to ensure that the homes that are built are affordable for ordinary people to rent and buy. The State, obviously, has a very clear role to play in that. Some 700 publicly-owned sites have been identified and we need to get on with building affordable homes on those. When will the Government introduce the national affordable housing scheme?

I do not have a date for that but I will ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to provide it to Deputy Howlin.