Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know about those restrictions, which are applied under the overall private rented sector guidelines, but I am asking a different question about what would happen if we invested over €500 million in building student accommodation. Given the picture Deputy Burke paints, it seems that what I often describe as the Wild West now obtains. There are private commercial interests. They do not pay the piper, but they are calling the tune and setting the rents. Are we going to finish up in a situation where public money, which is welcome, is invested only for students to find themselves paying large rents that provide private companies with large profit margins? Private companies have their place – I am not arguing that – but this money is being utilised for the public good. Where the public domain is concerned, we need to ensure a level of management and control so that rents do not take off as if this were the Wild West.