Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams raises a number of important issues. The first thing I want to say is that in recent years every person in the public sector has had to make real sacrifices in the interest of keeping the economy moving. The same applied in an even more serious situation in the private sector, where hundreds of thousands of jobs were either in jeopardy or lost. The situation is that the country is in a better position economically than it was but we still face very serious challenges ahead.

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has committed to introducing a comprehensive rent strategy in the next couple of weeks. He has dealt with this matter at some considerable length and the strategy will be the point of discussion in this House. He is focused on the undoubted pressure that has arisen from increased rents particularly in the greater Dublin area. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform instructed his officials to meet representatives from ICTU last evening.

What the Government wants to do is have a co-ordinated approach - by means of a well-managed strategy - to deal with the challenges we face. There are many. Every day of the week, as a result of the success of Government in creating more and more jobs, people are under pressure to get out of their housing estates to travel to work. They spend longer times doing so. They want to work. As a result of the increase in employment and the rise in demographics, people are struggling because of the issues relating to the construction sector. The latter is a major focus of what the Government will be doing in the next number of years, with a €5 billion fund to back it up across five different pillars. It is very important that this country remains competitive in terms of the national and international situation. That means keeping costs down. This is why we have to focus on the issues of rent, mortgages, housing, public transport, access and the costs relating thereto. The Government has repeatedly attempted to reduce income tax, thereby making it easier for people to live. It increased the minimum wage on the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission and continues to focus on the creation of jobs and employment right throughout the country. That is why there will be a major programme over the coming years to provide access to broadband right throughout the country. It is an enormous physical and structural challenge, with a very substantial amount of trenching work to be done in order to bring fibre directly to houses.

All of the issues raised by the Deputy are serious and they are all challenges for Ireland. A central consideration is that we keep costs down and be competitive. Otherwise, given the uncertainty abroad in terms of the outcome of Brexit and other international issues, we need to focus on how as a country we can best move forward.

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