Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

In most European countries people have been renting for generations. I was brought up in a rented house in the centre of Dublin city. Most people in that area, which consisted of traditional, working class housing, now own their homes but that was not the case at that time. However, landlords are now buying all the properties in this area and one can immediately tell which homes are let. I am not sure if this phenomenon is so apparent in provincial towns but Dublin is leading the way in this regard.

This is a significant social phenomenon and because there has not been enough analysis of the structure of tax breaks for landlords and developments in this regard in the last seven or eight years, we are creating unnecessary social problems. We need a private rented sector that is well regulated. Perhaps in future canvassers can walk down roads without being able to identify those homes which are rented. Deputy McGrath's amendment serves to redress the balance in favour of empowering responsible private tenants and it is worthy of the Minister's detailed consideration.

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