Housing costs - Government policy makes crisis worse

Interminably, the question of who, or what, is responsible for the unconscionable cost of houses in this country is one that is passed from the Government, to builders, to the cost of land, but ultimately the purchaser pays an exorbitant price.

Despite the fact that the Government insists it is in favour of people being able to afford their own houses, its own policy is one of the costly contributing factors in preventing too many people from doing just that.

A breakdown in the cost of houses carried out by the Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) illustrates that a huge element in finding the finance for one is demanded by the prohibitive level of the Government’s take.