I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 27, 36, 64, and 231 together.
The consultant's report on the house price study, An Economic Assessment of Recent House Price Developments, was published on 23 April together with the Government's Action on House Prices, which sets out a balanced range of measures in response to the report. Copies of the report and Action on House Prices were circulated to all Oireachtas Members and are also available in the Oireachtas Library.
The consultant's report highlights the extent to which positive economic and demographic factors, reinforced by a number of additional factors such as investment demand for residential property and difficulties on the supply side, due to certain infrastructural constraints and the effect of stamp duty rates, have resulted in recent very high levels of house price increases.
The package of measures adopted by the Government involves a three pronged approach to increase the potential supply of housing, address factors causing overheating or distortions in the market, and improve the position of prospective first time buyers.