Government must aid first-time buyers

The effects of the Central Bank’s lending rules are now clearly showing in Ireland’s property prices. Since the measures were tightened in January, inflation in residential property has stabilised significantly, giving way to more sustainable prices. Our figures for Q3 2018 confirm house price inflation in Dublin of just 0.4 per cent for the quarter, compared with a 2.1 per cent increase for the same period in 2017.

The lending rules, coupled with ...