Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a cuid ceiste. Tá innéacs náisiúnta cíosa an mBord um Thionóntachtaí Cónaithe le foilsiú inniu don ceathrú deireanach de 2017. Taispeánann sé gur ardaigh cíosanna príobháideacha 6.4% ar fud na tíre i gcomparáid leis an tréimhse 12 mhí chéanna in 2016. Mhoilligh an ráta fáis le gnáthchíosanna a ardú 1.1% idir mí Dheireadh Fómhair agus mí na Nollag 2017 i gcomparáid le 2.5% idir mí Iúil agus mí Mheán Fómhair 2017. I am very aware, like everybody on this side of the House, of the pressures people are under when it comes to rising rents. The Deputy referred to people who get up early in the morning, are just about managing and have to work very hard to cover the cost of rent, after which they have to meet other costs such as child care, as well as the general cost of living. People face difficulties in trying to pay rent, while at the same time trying to save money to buy their first home. I do not know if the Deputy had a chance to listen to "Morning Ireland" this morning on which the head of the Residential Tenancies Board spoke about the figures. She spoke from a very informed and balanced point of view. I encourage people who are interested in the facts to listen to the interview because it was very informative.

The index shows that in the fourth quarter of 2017 rents rose by 6.4% across the country. The rate of increase is slowing. The figures show that standard rents increased by only 1.1% in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 2.5% in the third quarter. They indicate that in Dublin, for example, rents are increasing at their lowest rates since 2013. That indicates two things to me. It indicates that the market is beginning to stabilise and that what people are willing and able to pay is much closer to what landlords are able to charge. It also shows that the rent pressure zones are starting to work. Of course, these are new tenancies and for new tenancies, rents have increased by 6.4% in the last year and that rate is slowing. For existing tenancies, the rate of increase, with some exceptions, is 4% or less.

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