Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said that before Christmas and the entire nation was gobsmacked when he said that there was no data to show that rents were rising, if not rocketing, in those areas. There are countless Deputies here who can attest to that and the Minister could just look at www.daft.ieon any day to see the level of rent in those areas.

I also want to ask the Minister about the rate of rent. His private rental strategy contains a proposal that has not been very well advertised, namely, to fast-track evictions on the basis of non-payment of rent. Most people get into rent arrears because rents are so high. It has been reported by the National Competitiveness Council that people are spending 41% of their income on rent. That is not sustainable, particularly for families. Obviously, for those in receipt of rent allowance, the amount they must personally pay has increased dramatically.

The Dublin Tenants Association responded to the Minister's strategy as follows: "The strategy introduces ‘fast track’ evictions for tenants who are unable to pay their rent. This is the last thing we should be doing during a homelessness crisis." It is a very strange decision on the part of the Minister.

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