Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The daft.ie rental price report for quarter 1 of 2018 makes for shocking reading and highlights how the Government's rent pressure zone legislation has failed. In every single county in the State, with the exception of Donegal, the 4% rent pressure zone cap is being breached on new lets. In Dublin, average rent is now at a record high of €1,875 a month. This is 12.4% higher than the same period last year and three times the 4% cap. Double-digit rent inflation was noted in 14 other counties, including counties in the Dublin commuter belt, and the average rent in Meath, Kildare and Louth increased by over 10%. This is creating massive affordability issues for those trying to access the private rental market.

This issue cannot be left unresolved. We need to introduce real rent certainty, and the Residential Tenancies Board needs the power and resources to begin policing breaches of the 4% cap. When will the Taoiseach review the rent pressure zone legislation? Will he reconsider providing real rent certainty by linking rents to an index such as the consumer price index, CPI? When will he publish and move the residential tenancies (amendment) Bill to give the RTB additional powers?

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