Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputies will agree that in the current economic environment there is a dysfunctional property and rental market. That is readily evident, and pressure on rent will continue until housing supply is increased. That includes the supply of both social and private housing. A substantial increase in supply and investment is needed, with the Housing Agency identifying the need for at least 21,000 units per annum. That is why this package of measures was introduced by the Government on top of the commitments made in the social housing and Construction 2020 strategies, which will take time to deliver the construction projects that are badly needed. However, in the meantime, these measures will bring certainty and enhance the rights of tenants and the notice periods that are required for tenants. The package also ensures that the PRTB is best placed to resolve disputes and manage the much sought-after deposit protection scheme, which no Deputy has welcomed yet. This has been welcomed by Threshold and other agencies and they have acknowledged that the scheme will help alleviate the pressure on people to find homes when they move. The scheme will introduce protections for tenants, who will have access to their deposits in order that they can rent again. That measure alone will improve matters, but I did not hear Deputies welcoming it. I thought I would because they called for it.

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