How do parties differ on solving the housing crisis?

With the General Election taking place on Friday, housing has remained high on the agenda for voters.

So, what are the main differences between the parties?

RTÉ's Economics and Public Affairs Correspondent David Murphy analyses the policies.

Fine Gael

The party places a heavy emphasis on expanding two schemes aimed at getting first time buyers on the property ladder.

Help-to-Buy allows a homebuyer to reclaim income tax paid in the past towards a deposit for a home.

Fine Gael wants to raise the maximum amount which can be claimed under the initiative from €30,000 to €40,000.

Simon Harris’ party also wants to extend another scheme called First Homes.

Under this initiative, the State and participating banks take a stake of up to 30% in a home so first-time buyers can borrow less.

Fine Gael wants to expand this to include second-hand properties (it is currently limited to new homes.)

Economists have raised concerns that these schemes could make property more expensive.

Prices are rising at 10% per annum.

But that concern is disputed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

Fine Gael’s plan would see 303,000 homes built between now and 2030.

But many experts believe that will fall short of demand. The Central Bank says 70,000 are needed to deal with the housing shortfall and the future growth in the population in a decade.

Fine Gael’s plan envisages 41,000 homes built next year and ramping upwards in the coming years.

Fine Gael also wants to increase renters tax credit by €500 to €1,500.

Fianna Fáil

The party wants to introduce a living above the shop refurbishment grant of €100,000.

Like Fine Gael, its housing target is 303,000 over five years.

Micheál Martin’s party also wants to expand the Help-to-Buy scheme.

Instead of potential homebuyers being limited to reclaiming income tax paid in the past, Fianna Fáil wants to allow purchasers avail of a tax credit for rent paid over recent years. This was suggested in Budget negotiations, but the measure was not included in the final announcement.

Fianna Fáil says it will double renters tax credit to €2,000.

Unlike some parties on the left Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil would not freeze rents, although at present increases in rent pressure zones are tied to inflation which is less than 1%.

The party wants to allocate a further €4bn for the Land Development Agency, the body tasked with building on public land.

It also wants to discourage investment funds from buying family homes.

Sinn Féin

One of Sinn Féin’s notable proposals is that it plans to scrap stamp duty on homes up to €450,000.

The big difference between Sinn Féin and the current coalition partners of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is that Mary Lou McDonald's party wants to wind down Help-to-Buy and close the First Homes scheme to new entrants.

It argues both are adding to property price inflation.

Dismantling Help-to-Buy could be politically tricky. It has had 120,000 applications and more than 50,000 have used it to get a deposit.

Sinn Féin has a higher housing target than Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and believes it could build 370,000 by 2030.

The controversial part of the party's plans relates to its proposal to revamp the affordable homes scheme.

To lower prices by about €100,000 it wants buyers to purchase the house but not the land underneath it.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have claimed banks won't lend for such an initiative. That is disputed by Sinn Féin.

The party would take functions carried out by the Land Development Agency and transfer them to local authorities and set up a new Active Land Management Agency.

Sinn Féin would introduce a three-year ban on rent increases for existing and new tenancies.

Other parties

The Green Party says it would encourage the public to invest in housing by setting up an SSIA-style scheme.

It says it would build between 50,000 and 53,000 homes annually over the next five years.

Labour says it would increase annual housing output to 65,000 by 2030, would phase out Help-to-Buy and First Homes schemes, and freeze rents.

The Social Democrats said it would build 50,000 affordable purchase homes. It advocates a three-year rent freeze and would build 303,000 homes between now and 2030.

People Before Profit-Solidarity advocates setting up a State construction company funded by funds from Apple’s tax payment and increasing the renters tax credit to €3,000 per annum.

Independent Ireland says it would implement planning reform, provide emergency modular home schemes and end families living in emergency accommodation.

Aontú says it would provide 8,000 vacant home grants of up €70,000 and cut down on application bureaucracy.

It would also introduce a zero rate of VAT for construction materials.