Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an important debate. When we have the Minister's full proposals and amendments, which are coming in this Bill, we will be able to debate them more fully. Landlords are paid well enough. The rents for those who are receiving the increased HAP supports in Drogheda have shot up in the past couple of years.

There has been a significant increase in Drogheda. The national increase in housing assistance payment, HAP, indicates that the system has recognised where rent increases have occurred.

I welcome what the Minister is doing and I understand his comments about the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, but the people in the Drogheda-east Meath area who vote for me are being screwed to the wall by landlords. People are in fear and are desperate, particularly families with young children. I accept the limits that the Minister is putting in place and his argument was strong, but I have read - the Minister might correct me if I am wrong - that rents in Dublin have increased by so much that they have tailed off because people are moving out of the city. Notwithstanding the fact that they work here, they cannot afford to live here anymore. People from my community - I will not say their names - are getting out of the city. Some are being forced out.