Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Today the Residential Tenancies Board index for the last quarter of 2023 has brought yet more grim news for those locked out of home ownership. It shows that new tenants are paying hundreds of euro more in rent than existing renters. This report is just another symptom of poor political choices on housing made by the Government. The decision not to pass the Labour Party's renters' rights Bill is one such decision. The lack of action on enforcing laws against rogue landlords is another. The unjustifiable delay in raising the home building targets is another poor decision, because we all know that supply is the answer. The Tánaiste said this himself earlier. The Labour councillor Marie Moloney spoke out this week about the fact that there are two people in their 90s and a dozen people in their 80s on the housing list in Killarney alone. This is the real human consequence of a failed housing policy. I will ask the Tánaiste three questions. Will the Government introduce stronger protections for renters? We have a Bill in place for that. Will the Government beef up enforcement for landlords who break rent pressure zone laws? Will the Government expedite publication of the revised housing targets?

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