Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the previous Deputy has done, I wish to highlight the issue of the accelerating rents being charged in the private rental sector. We cannot ignore the trends in that sector. I firmly believe the only solution is to have a temporary rent freeze, ideally for a period of two years.

Any Deputy who might have said 12 months ago that it was attractive to invest in the private rented sector would have been laughed out of the place. However, the most recent figures indicate a very different picture. It is not only in the capital; it is widespread. The largest purchasing group in the residential market during the past 12 months have been investors. It is alarming that almost one out of every three properties sold in the past 12 months has been to an investor. For various reasons, it is a good period to be an investor in the market.

It is not a very good period for a family living in private rented accommodation. My experience is the same as that of the previous Deputy. No longer is it a case of individuals being made homeless - families are now being made homeless and we cannot allow it. We need some control, which is why I believe there should be a two-year rent freeze.

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