I would like to ask the Taoiseach today why there are no affordable housing targets set for my county of Wexford and why Wexford is left out of the Government's affordable housing scheme. Every day, I deal with young couples who are striving to purchase their own homes but are caught in no-man's land - earning too much to be eligible for social housing yet too little to qualify for a mortgage through the banks. Rents in Wexford are up over 15% and house prices up over 12% on the previous year, and climbing steadily. The fact is County Wexford is now part of the Dublin commuter belt and housing is becoming more unaffordable by the day. Only last week, a three-bedroom house in north Wexford fetched over €400,000. The same week only one house was available on Daft.ie to rent for €1,800 per month. Young families who are renting do not have a hope of scraping a deposit together at this rate. I would appreciate if the Taoiseach could explain why the people of Wexford are being excluded from the Government's affordable housing scheme.

I can confirm for the Deputy that Wexford is not being excluded. No county is excluded from the affordable housing fund. It is open to every local authority to apply and bring schemes forward. We have the most comprehensive affordable housing policy in the history of the State. The fund is open and I have encouraged all local authorities to access it. We will have the first home shared equity scheme across all 31 local authorities and all 26 counties in the State open from 1 July. We are delivering affordable housing this year, both affordable rental and affordable purchase. We are not just talking about it.

We have run out of time. With the permission of the House, I will take the last three together. I call Deputy Danny Healy-Rae.