Councillors blamed for house price inflation

WHO are the real beneficiaries of the so-called housing boom? Banks with their 40-year mortgages, developers with their constant building and landowners with the inflated prices being paid for construction sites.

At least the banks and developers do a bit of work for their money. Landowners just go to the local politician and get their property rezoned.

It appears that in their concern for the plight of house-hunters, politicians believe rezoning swathes of land regardless of the amount already designated is the best way to reduce house price inflation. This is flawed thinking. One has only to look at Dublin stretching into neighbouring counties to realise what a failed policy this is.