Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a concern with this, although again I am not opposed to the principle and understand the logic. One reason that single people may want to share is that they cannot afford the one-bedroom units because the rent would be more than a third of their take-home pay. While not necessarily a desired option but as a practical solution to their housing needs, two single people will come together. The difficulty is that those two single people could be at an early stage in their career and in five, six or seven years, they may have partners or may wish to have their own accommodation. Is there any concern that we could be creating the possibility of some people ending up involuntarily sharing beyond where they believe it is in their interest, as we are currently seeing in the private rental sector? In the private rental sector, it is not uncommon now for two couples in their 30s to be sharing a property that ideally would be for one household. Is that something any of the witnesses has discussed or is concerned about?

Are there ways of trying to design something in that would make it avoidable five, six or ten years down the line?