The Sunday Independent’s View: Ministers must stop undoing its own work on housing

Those struggling to get a foot on the property ladder also face competition from an unexpected quarter — the State itself

House prices have been increasing, up 7.8pc in the year to June, beyond the reach of most workers’ wages to keep up. Stock image

The Government went into the last election pledging to make home ownership “more accessible, especially for first-time buyers”.

That the number of mortgage approvals for first-time buyers hit new heights in July, fuelled by government-backed initiatives such as Help to Buy, may appear to suggest that this commitment is being met.

Numbers, alas, do not tell the full story. House prices have also been increasing apace, up 7.8pc in the year to June, beyond the

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