Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is no secret that the crisis in housing is the biggest issue on the Government's agenda. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has committed to an action plan for housing within the first 100 days. He has consulted widely with all of the interests, including those referred to by the Deputy, in the preparation of that work. The Committee on Housing and Homelessness is due to report soon with its input into this debate.

In terms of the response, many worthwhile initiatives have been put in place in the past, although obviously more must be done. I agree with the Deputy that there is inadequate supply of both social and private housing. Much of the rental sector is in the private sector, and the rents the Deputy referred to in the reports are entirely in the private sector. This is a supply issue and we must see an acceleration of supply both in the social housing programme and in the private sector. That will be a big feature of what emerges from this.

There is also the issue of the adequacy of rent supplement. The Department of Social Protection has a protocol in place under which 1,000 families have been assisted in getting higher rent supplement with a higher ceiling to avoid the pressures the Deputy has described. With regard to the housing assistance payment, a 50% uplift of the payment is being piloted in Dublin and that is making an impact for families who are threatened with becoming homeless. It is working in some cases but, obviously, there will have to be a tight review to assess its impact. This area is getting a huge level of Government attention. There have already been four or five meetings of the Cabinet committee on housing at which all of the issues are being raised.

Rent certainty was dealt with in a Bill that was passed by the Oireachtas, under which new rules governing rent certainty have been provided. They provide for a more extended period of notice and there can only be increases in rents every two years. Those provisions are in place and will be monitored in terms of policy in this area.

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