Tánaiste defends price of Coolock affordable homes scheme

The Tánaiste has defended the pricing of homes on the Oscar Traynor Road in Coolock, Dublin amid rowdy scenes in the Dáil.

The affordable homes scheme will see three-bed houses priced between €400,000 and €475,000.

Responding to claims from Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty that people in Coolock “could never aspire to own” homes at those prices, Micheál Martin said there are a range of schemes to help buyers.

He said that First Homes scheme and the Help to Buy scheme could reduce the price of a €400,000 home to €270,000.

Mr Doherty said that the Government was “out of touch” and the situation was “astonishing”.

He accused Mr Martin of “misleading the Dáil” on the issue.

It follows calls by Independent Councillor John Lyons for the launch of the affordable housing scheme to be paused.