DAVY VIEW

Having seen Fianna Fail promise a €10,000 top-up to first-time buyers’ savings, Fine Gael has announced that it will expand the Help-to-Buy scheme to a maximum €30,000 rebate (from €20,000 currently). Ahead of the general election on February 8th, the political parties are competing by promoting demand side policies, subsidising first-time buyers ¿ but, given constrained supply, this will place upward pressure on Irish house price inflation.