Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To me, discussion of rent caps in different areas such as Dublin, Athlone or wherever is not getting at the real issue. What community welfare officers have got to have, rather than generalised caps, is the flexibility to respond to the market locally. About a year to a year and a half ago, I did not see that flexibility, but I see it now. CWOs are now responding to individual cases and upping the caps as appropriate, which is very positive.

In terms of supply, around the country, including in my own area of Fingal, there are now moves towards providing more accommodation, and the councils are beginning to build houses. However, we are also seeing people objecting to these houses, while so-called left-wing parties with representatives in this House are voting against those social houses. We all have got to examine our conscience in terms of the political groupings we are involved with. Supply is a big issue and we must facilitate it as far as possible.