Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, rent index makes grim reading for renters and is yet another confirmation of what we already know: rents are out of control and there are no upper limits. Someone looking to rent will have to pay €369 per month more than when the Government took office. Last year, rents in existing tenancies rose by 4.5% in Dublin city, 5% in Cork city, 5.4% in Waterford city, 5.5% in Limerick city and 6.1% in Galway city. These increases are taking place in rent pressure zones, RPZs. In rent pressure zones, rents on existing tenancies are not allowed by law to go up by more than 2% per year. Despite this, there is no evidence the Government is doing anything to enforce the laws that are supposed to protect renters. Rents are at their highest ever level and have almost doubled in the past decade. There are record numbers of people homeless, record house prices and record numbers of adults living in their childhood bedrooms, yet I know the Tánaiste will stand up in a few minutes and tell me the Government's housing plan is working. He will tell us commencements are up and will not mention house completions - the figure that really matters - are down 12% in the first quarter of this year.

The spin is not working. Actually, it is just antagonising people and making them angry because they are the ones paying the price for the Government's failure. Renters are paying extortionate sums to landlords. People on average incomes are finding it extremely difficult to get by. Once rent, bills and food are paid for, there is almost nothing left. It is impossible to save for a deposit or to see a way out of an endless cycle of rent increases and housing insecurity. Every part of the country is in the grip of a rental crisis. We have hard data that clearly shows the Government's rent regulation measures are not working. They are not being enforced; they are being flouted blatantly. There is nowhere in the country where the 2% rent cap is being adhered to. Given this clear and persistent breach of rent regulation law, what exactly is the Government doing to ensure it is enforced? Why is there impunity for landlords breaking this law?

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