ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche yesterday pledged the State would deliver more affordable homes of high quality and do so at "a faster pace" than before.

The Irish Home Builders' Association and the Construction Industry Federation are due to make a submission to the Oireachtas committee on the Constitution this afternoon.

The Construction Industry Federation say that today's Budget will mean any additions in the increase in VAT will be noted in house prices.

The Irish Home Builders' Association (IHBA) has reacted angrily to at the measures announced in today's Budget, complaining that home buyers cannot recover the VAT element on new housing.

THE Government’s failure to make developers deliver on affordable housing will lead to massive social problems, an influential charity warned yesterday.