In less than five years, house prices have risen by 47.7%. That is a failure of the Government of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. It is a failure to respond, a failure to intervene and a failure to deliver. Over 2,000 family homes, which is a conservative estimate, have been bulk purchased by investment funds since the Minister's claim they had stopped it. In Waterford today, there is not a single housing assistance payment, HAP, property to rent. House prices are up 10.7% in Waterford across city and country. The average price for a three-bedroom semi-detached house is €345,000. Families are being squeezed out of their own communities, while funds expand their portfolios. Méadaíodh praghsanna na dtithe beagnach 50% ó 2020. Tá na mílte tithe ceannaithe ag coistí infheistíochta. I bPort Láirge, níl aon teach HAP ar fáil agus is rogha polaitiúil é sin. Tá an Rialtas ag seasamh leis na coistí in ionad na dteaghlach. Caithfear cosc iomlán a chur ar choistí infheistíochta ag ceannach thithe teaghlaigh. Homes are for living in. They are not asset portfolios. While a young couple in Waterford saves every cent for a deposit, vulture and investment funds can buy nine houses without even triggering the higher stamp duty rate. While families search in vain for a rental, entire estates are snapped up and rented back at inflated prices. This Government is choosing funds over families and people know it. The Government needs to wake up and take action. It needs to ban the bulk purchase of homes. Simon Harris once wrote that bulk purchasing of homes could not be tolerated. Now, as Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, no less, it is happening on his watch. This is about power and priorities. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Lowry and Healy-Rae Independents are protecting their vested interests and we on this side of the House are standing with workers and families. The Minister needs to take action now and ban the bulk purchase of homes.

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