Once again rents have increased in Louth, by more than 9% on what they were this time last year. It has to be said that the Government's indifference and lack of action is causing untold financial misery and uncertainty for many people. The figures show yet again that the Government response is simply not working. The lack of a proper social and affordable housing building programme is compounding the problem further. As long as this remains the case-----

I do not want statements.

-----rents will continue to soar. In my opinion the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government is out of his depth.

I am sorry, Deputy. That is not appropriate for this slot.

Will he admit that the policy has been a failure so far?

Let us get an answer to the Deputy's question. I cannot get her an answer unless she allows the Minister to speak.

At this stage of the crisis will the Minister agree to introduce rent certainty?

I will admit I am not a great swimmer. When it comes to things like triathlons it is not my strongest suit. I am better at running and at cycling. Let us stick to the facts. The Deputy says that there is no social house building programme. Some 50,000 new homes will come into the stock of social housing under Rebuilding Ireland. We will build double what was built last year this year, which itself was a tripling of what was built the year before. If we are going to have a debate about housing let us stick to the facts.

Let us deal with reality.

If the Deputy wants to talk about rents, nationally they are down 0.4%. For two quarters in a row we have seen a dramatic slowdown in rent increases.

The Minister is fooling nobody but himself.

In some counties rents are falling.

The Minister without interruption.

No one is saying that we do not have more work to do.

The Minister needs to get out of his bubble. He needs to get out and to see what it is like for people.

Rent increases have slowed to 0.4% nationally, okay.

The Minister is out of his depth.

Let us talk to the facts.

Is that the best Deputy Munster can do?

Let us talk to the facts.

It goes from crisis to crisis with the Minister.

Maybe the Deputy should busy herself printing more posters, renting out vehicles and standing in front of them while doing meaningless media events that do not solve anything.

Did the Minister get upset?

Is that the best the Deputy can do?

I recognise-----

I have 15 other Members waiting to make a contribution.

We in government chose to be in government. We did not run away from the choice of government like the Deputy's party did two years ago.

We stood up and we said that we wanted to go into government and to have the responsibility of government.

Minister, please.

I recognise-----

The Minister is now speaking over me. That is sufficient.