Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Boyd Barrett's amendments. The setting of rents across local authorities is very important and there must be consistency. One of the main problems is that different local authorities apply different rent rates. Differential rent rates should be based on the income of tenants, which is the fairest way to determine them. Ability to pay should be taken into account. It is very unfair, for example, that people on social welfare pay different rents, depending on the local authority area in which they live.

In the context of the LPT, we have already had indications from Cork County Council and others that they intend to add the LPT onto the rents. Will there be variations in this across local authorities too?

There has to be consistency. That is the only problem I have. In general, what the Minister of State has laid out is okay. These amendments would give us the consistency that is needed across local authorities, and I support them.

See this speech in context