Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The reply from the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, does not give any comfort to people in Laois, Monasterevin or other parts of the country who have had sharp increases in rent. Rents in Laois have increased by 16.6%, the second highest increase in the State. In a reply to a recent parliamentary question the Minister, Deputy Coveney, said the increase has to be more than 7% in four of the previous six quarters. That is a huge increase. The Government's rent controls are clearly not working. Families are under severe stress. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State in the Department, Deputy English, to go back to the drawing board and introduce proper rent controls.

Sinn Féin introduced a proposal to link rents with the level of general inflation. That happens in other countries so why can we not do it here? We also called for an acceleration of the local authority house building programme and a reintroduction of the affordable housing scheme which the previous Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, abolished under the previous Government.

There is a commitment on page 23 of the programme for Government to introduce a cost rental option. There is unanimous support in the House for that. The Government included the measure in the programme for Government. That is a measure Sinn Féin could support if it was done properly. That would bring immediate relief for people. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the Minister reports on progress with the scheme.

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