Ms Fionnughla McLoughlin:

I will take the issue of rent increases and explain why we would like to see rent caps increased across the board. As an example, there are 70,000 cases throughout the country currently claiming rent supplement, and it has been mentioned that if rent supplement is increased, there will be 70,000 cases of rent being increased. That is not the case and the legislation was changed last year regarding how often landlords can increase rent. The period has changed to 24 months, which curtails many people. There are 20,000 people in Dublin on rent supplement. The Tenancy Protection Service, TPS, has the ability to get people rent caps above the current rent limits, and 1,914 cases have been taken up through the TPS. Raising rent caps across the board does not automatically mean everybody will get a rent increase but it would be available should the people need it. Rent regulation and rent certainty stops rent spiralling out of control, as the rates are continuing to do. It gives people a security of tenure in order that they can remain in a tenancy.