Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The answer is "No". The Taoiseach said the State funds 30% of the private rented sector and went on to say that rental supplement is a payment made to tenants. Which is it? If the State is funding the private rented sector, then it can control rents, but it clearly does not. The Taoiseach said 42,000 cases were within the limits set. That is true, but there are also 42,000 cases which must pay top-ups or under-the-counter payments because tenants cannot get accommodation at a rent within the limits set.

The Government has increased the contribution from single tenants by more than 130% since 2008. That has meant that single tenants must increase their top-ups to their landlords by more than 130%. That is the situation in the real world in which people are living. They must pay the top-ups, which landlords are demanding, out of their social welfare payments to keep a roof over their heads. That is leading to a situation where we see soup kitchens opening throughout the country. Is that a situation which the Government wants to see?

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