Sinn Féin’s proposal to provide Dublin homes for €300,000 is unrealistic nonsense. It highlights the party’s inability to plan for any of the basic tasks that come with responsible leadership.

Sinn Féin must explain how their immense reduction to €300,000 can be achieved in the capital city without it being brought about by an economic crash.

The truth is we know they won’t be able to because the cost of building a home is made up of hard costs, such as building and labour costs. Plus ‘soft costs’, such as land, levies and finance costs.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) recently conducted an independent analysis of the costs of construction which showed that it currently costs €460,000 to deliver a new three bedroom home in Dublin to the market. Sinn Féin’s proposal would require a 35% reduction in costs, which is just not credible.

Where would the €300,000 home be located? An apartment or a house? A garden or none? Their proposal is nonsense.