Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, many people in Waterford who rent are being paid the rent supplement within the limits. The Deputy should remember that the limits were identified by an intensive and extensive survey of all of the current up-to-date data. One concern I have is that because the Department accounts for just under 40% of the total rental market, it will end up pushing up rents for everyone. When the rent was increased last year and when the changes were made, there was a general welcome for it. However, since then, there has been a huge amount of publicity, much of which encourages landlords to seek additional rents. However, as for those renting in the private sector and those in receipt of rent supplement, the evidence we have, because we know what people are renting-----

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