Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have talked to many people about this and not just in respect of the Dublin area. An increase in rent allowance probably will not result in a single additional unit. We are in the middle of a supply crisis. There are not enough units around the country. This is not just the case in Dublin. I was recently talking to councillors in Clonmel about the issue. There were only four three-bedroom houses up for rent in that town, which has a huge demand. The increase in rent allowance would not bring an additional unit on the market, but would inflate rent levels in the area. It is challenging. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, will bring proposals on rent certainty. However, what we must do is to increase supply as quickly as possible. Very little has been built since 2008 and with the increase in the number of people in employment, demand has increased further, especially in the Dublin area. The focus must be on the provision of additional units. I do not believe at this stage that an increase in rent allowance would give us a single unit in the Dublin area. It would just create a false bottom for prices. A number of people who have come onto rent allowance this year have succeeded in getting rental accommodation in the Dublin area. I gave the numbers earlier, but I think it was 1,300 new claims. It is extremely stressful. I am sure Deputy Collins's clinic is like mine in that we deal with people in dire need of accommodation. What we need to do is to supply that as quickly as possible through a building programme. That is the way forward.

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