Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind the House that there has been a public consultation phase regarding the rental sector. That began on 24 October.

It focuses on four key areas: bringing greater tenure in rent certainty to landlords and tenants, maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply, improving the quality and management of rental accommodation and broadening and strengthening the role of the PRTB to provide its services more effectively and empower tenants and landlords. Those are the various actions that the Minister will be undertaking.

Let me make a point to Deputy McDonnell in relation to sustainable exits from homelessness. There have been already this year 1,350 families who have benefitted who have moved out of homelessness into sustainable accommodation in the first six months of 2016. Progress is being made. There is huge demand out there. Clearly, if this Government had not taken the actions that it has taken to improve the economy then there would not be the funding to take the actions which it is taking which will make a difference but which will take time in relation to the housing market and the supply.

See this speech in context