The housing crisis is crippling my generation. Thanks to the Government's policies, the possibility of owning a home or renting an affordable apartment has become a pipe dream rather than a legitimate aspiration. Young people in Galway, like those in most other counties in Ireland, are bearing the brunt of the crisis. The figures do not lie. According to research published by The Times, Ireland edition, the number of Airbnb listings in Galway is 1,574. This compares with the number of rentals available on daft.ie, which stands at just 44. Rents in Galway city and county have increased by 14% and 18%, respectively. It now costs €1,585 per month, on average, to rent a home in Galway city. The average house price in Galway is €335,000, with house prices having increased by 21%.

The time is up, Deputy.

This is the reality of the Government's housing policy. It is devastating for my generation-----

Deputy, please. The time is up.

-----and no amount of spin can change that.

This Government is in office only two years.

What has it done? There are only 44 rentals available.

Already, we have had the largest commencement in terms of new housing, of 35,000 units from March to March. It is the largest number of commencements since 2008.

Prices continue to increase.

Without doubt, housing is the biggest crisis facing the country. We had two lockdowns during the Covid crisis, which was a significant factor. However, I think the Deputy's party will have to stop objecting left, right and centre to developments here.

Please, Deputy.

I am struck, for example, by how her party opposes every build-to-rent development in the Republic. It makes it a kind of issue of principle, whereas in Northern Ireland, the party has no difficulty in supporting the largest build-to-rent proposal put forward. The party supports build-to-rent housing in Northern Ireland but opposes it down here.

That is because they do not have inferior design standards for apartment building there.

This is not your question, Deputy Ó Broin.

The Taoiseach is provoking me.

Try not to be provoked.

We do not need that kind of hypocrisy in terms of housing policy.

Deputies, please. We are way over time and people are not going to be called at the end. Will Members please have a bit of order? I call Deputy Bacik.