Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The evidence is there and it is clear that the maximum rent limits do not enable people to rent homes. This comes to me mainly from people who are made homeless or threatened with homelessness for whatever reason in their current accommodation. When they are encouraged to seek other accommodation within the rent supplement limits or slightly above them so they can look for a variation, people invariably say they cannot find anywhere.

This morning I looked on a website for properties suitable for a couple in Dublin - not Fingal - with €900 as the maximum rent limit. There is nowhere appropriate. For a couple with one child the maximum limit is €1,250 per month and there are zero places available. For a couple with two children needing a two-bedroom place with €1,275 as the limit, there is one place available. For a couple with three children and a rent limit of €1,300, no places are available. As suitable properties are unavailable, does the Minister not see that the rent supplement limits must be increased?

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