To buy an average priced house in Dublin a household income of €112,000 is required, which is far beyond the reach of most people in any average job. Apart from supply, the lack of affordable housing has been a crucial factor. Despite years of promises by this and the last Government, we still do not have an affordable housing scheme, which is outrageous. We regularly see, in the Dublin local authorities in particular, situations where there are umpteen sites that could be developed to provide social housing, especially affordable housing. The sites are waiting to be developed and local authorities are ready to develop schemes. There is a huge demand for affordable housing, yet we do not have any direction from the Department on the long promised affordable housing scheme. What on earth is holding up the scheme?

We have the question. I ask the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to provide a short, snappy reply.

When will the Government provide clear direction to the local authorities?

We have an affordable housing scheme. We provided €300 million in the budget for the scheme this year. This week, I will write to the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government with details of the sites that have been successful in the first phase of the scheme.