Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Thomas Byrne said, in his view, the Coalition's housing policies are working.
Mr Byrne also mentioned the seperate Help To Buy scheme, which allows first-time buyers of new build homes to receive €30,000 from the State to help buy the property. However, speaking on the same programme, Sinn Féin TD Mairead Farrell disagreed, saying"even my friends who are not political say they see Help To Buy as pushing up prices" and that"affordability schemes in Galway city still haven't happened".Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said another key housing issue which must be resolved is mortgage interest rates, saying some"vulture funds" are charging people"8% to 9% and that is outrageous".
Labour TD and finance spokesperson Ged NasH told the same programme that"undoubtedly people are experience a very difficult time".