Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is essential for that to happen. I deal with people whom I would call prisoners, not tenants, of Roscommon County Council. There seems to be nowhere for them to go when the place is not properly insulated. One person after another complains of dampness. They cannot go anywhere and nothing is done about it. If they want to move out of the house they are told they will not get rent allowance and will not be put back on the council list because they already had a house. They are regarded as ungrateful. The sooner the councils come under the PRTB's remit the better. I hope it happens. I meet many people in public accommodation whose life is made hell because there is no one they can call to solve this problem.

It will be a problem for the PRTB to deal with this on its limited resources. If it wants to take this problem seriously and move to a situation that someone renting a property here feels as secure as, for example, someone in Germany, the PRTB will need more staff. I do not approve of a handful of people owning thousands of properties which the rest of us poor cretins have to rent. I would prefer that people would be facilitated to own their own homes because that is the most secure way to deal with housing. I wish Ms Walsh the best of luck in her role. She has a tough job.