James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They do not need to go bankrupt as proof that they will not make a profit. A lot of the decisions we have been making is in order to get apartment delivery moving. We are seeing a collapse in the delivery of apartments, particularly in Dublin city. We need to get them delivered. That is why we have been making a lot of the decisions we have been making.

With regard to student accommodation, I am working with the Minister, Deputy James Lawless, to specify purpose-built student accommodation and to see what measures may need to be put in place in that regard.

When it comes to the wider rental sector, no protections are in place for any specific group of people. I am not aware of that ever being done in the history of this State and I do not intend to do it either as it would create an impossible, complex situation that could not be overseen or checked. While the number of students in accommodation is quite high, understandably so, we also have nurses, doctors and gardaí who move around. There are a lot of people who move around. We made decisions that will lead to delivery because all of these problems, whether it is homelessness numbers, high rents or high costs with buying a home, are a result of a lack of supply.