177. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the research carried out by his Department into the potential fiscal and housing market impacts of the new tax reliefs for property developers announced as part of budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73179/25]

Sentiment score: 0.11

364. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the research carried out by his Department into the potential fiscal and housing market impacts of the new tax reliefs for property developers announced as part of budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69732/25]

Sentiment score: 0.11

I thank the Chair. I have never been grouped with myself before. Má chaitheann muid ár súil siar, we will recall that huge economic damage was done by property tax reliefs that were not well designed or indeed well researched. In relation to recently introduced property tax relief measures, what research and analysis was done in advance? Will the Minister publish that research and analysis and share it with us?

Sentiment score: 0.17

I am aware that there have been reports on housing, viability, financing and so forth and that there has been research in the area; that was not my question. My question was on the tax measures that were introduced by Government and by the Minister's predecessor as Minister for Finance in the budget on property. What research or analysis was done before those tax measures were decided on? The Parliamentary Budget Office, which is independent, has been highly critical of the Government for introducing measures like that and not producing any evidence, analysis or research to back them up, especially given the damage that has been done in the past with similar measures. In other countries when there are such massive public subsidies put into different types of housing, it is linked specifically to affordability - it makes housing more affordable. The Government decided not to do that. One of the main reports the Minister cited was something that was published post budget. Did the Government carry out research about these tax measures and if so, will the Minister publish it and share it with us?

Sentiment score: -0.03

As the Tánaiste has said, a political decision was made. We know that there was intense lobbying from the sector for that decision to be made. It appears that there was not any actual research or analysis done in advance on these tax measures by the Department. The Tánaiste is not aware of any and none has been published. The SCSI report that he referenced shows only the top 20% of earners can actually afford to rent an apartment. Not doing that analysis, not doing that research and not tying these measures in with affordability is an absolute flaw. We are surrounded by countries where when they make these kinds of investments and measures, they make housing more affordable. The Government is pursuing policies that increase supply but do not increase affordability. That is a major flaw in what it is doing. Not having researched or analysed it in advance is a major flaw and the Parliamentary Budget Office has called it out on that. Why did the Government not do that? When making these kinds of decisions in future, will the Government commit to do the proper analysis in advance and tie the measures in with affordability which is best practice in other European countries?

Sentiment score: 0.13