I welcome the comments by the leader of Fianna Fáil about the good news from the Central Bank providing first-time buyers with some help towards affording to purchase homes. This acknowledges the reality in Dublin that a limit of €200,000 was not feasible and that it is very difficult to find a property now in that price bracket in the capital. I note the comments of Senator Craughwell and I welcome them. I absolutely agree with him. As I listened to the Minister on radio this morning, I certainly felt that homelessness is a complex problem that has been with us and that is getting worse. Its roots lie in the past and the problem cannot be resolved overnight, but I believe the Minister is sincere and honest. He is putting forward a plan to deal with this matter. It is not a quick fix that will unravel in a few months' time. It is a plan that will prevent further homelessness and that will lead to those who sadly find themselves without homes at the moment being housed. No one in this Chamber can countenance the prospect of our children or citizens being reared in hotel rooms or being moved around. School is difficult enough for children and it is where they learn to socialise. It is distressing when they are faced with the prospect of long journeys to school or they are not clear if they can keep going to the same school for a prolonged period. This is quite apart from the fact that there are no cooking facilities in these hotels and that the normality of family life is seriously disrupted for those obliged to live in them. I know that everyone in this House would agree that we need to address this issue aggressively. I know the Minister is doing that but he is also not rushing. He is doing it in a way that is well thought out and that, I believe, will deliver for the future of the State and our children, our most important asset.

Reference was made to Irish Water. I welcome the fact that the company is investing so much money in infrastructure. I was very pleased that the new treatment plant at Rush - where we turned the sod last week - is going ahead. We will again be able to enjoy clean water on our beaches, which are a fantastic amenity for young people and tourists. That to which I refer is happening across the State. One of the most basic things in life is clean, safe water.

I agree with some of the sentiments expressed by the previous speaker and, in particular, with the comments of our leader, Senator Ardagh. The Central Bank and its Governor are behind the curve in respect of first-time buyers in the context of giving them an opportunity to get on the property ladder by purchasing their own homes. For the 18 months since this regulation was introduced, it was well known by most people in the property industry that it was not going to be a help of any kind. I implore the Minister to stop playing with the blinds and to open the window for all those who have been denied the dream of owning their own homes. The cost of building a house is the number one problem. It is the main impediment to kick-starting a functioning housing market. I call on the Minister to immediately reduce the VAT rate on new builds for the interim. This would certainly allow us to tackle some aspects of the homelessness crisis and the low level of supply in the housing sector.