Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama. Measaim go bhfuil an liosta ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Is moladh simplí an rud atá os ár gcomhair anseo. Tá sé molta nach mbeadh cíos i leith áitribh atá ar cíos ag mic léinn ag ardú i gcriosanna brú cíosa ar ráta níos mó ná mar atá ceadaithe d'aon sórt tithíochta eile sa cheantar. Tá fás as cuimse ar thógáil ionaid chónaithe le haghaidh mic léinn, le hinfheistíocht mhór ó thar lear ach go háirithe, le feiscint le tamall beag anuas. Ní chóir go mbeadh cead ag rachmasaithe ó thar lear, nó fiú rachmasaithe atá lonnaithe anseo nó gur Éireannaigh iad, leanúint leis an sórt gadaíochta atáimid tar éis í a fheiscint cheana féin nuair a bhí siad ag ardú cíosanna ar ráta 20% nó 30% sa bhliain. Is scannal amach agus amach é. Bhí mé ag éisteacht leis an Teachta Healy a labhair romham. Bhí sé ag lorg go mbeadh an Rialtas ag fógairt éigeandáil tithíochta. Tá sé ann agus tá sé ann le blianta. Tá sé thar ama go n-adhmálfadh an Rialtas go bhfuil fadhb ollmhór againn agus nach bhfuil aon chinneadh Rialtais ag déanamh mórán difríocht dóibh siúd atá ag fáil tithe nó árasáin ar cíos sa chathair seo is cuma más clanna iad, más mic léinn iad, más daoine iad atá gafa in ionaid do dhaoine gan dídean nó. mar a chonaic muid inniu, más daoine iad a bhfuil cónaí orthu i ngluaisteáin nó a leithéid.

There is a logic to the proposal in this Bill to extend rent pressure zones to cover student accommodation. Anybody who has recently visited the Liberties in Dublin will have seen large developments of student accommodation. When we check the groups behind these developments and the people who intend to profit from them we find they are not always long-term investments where a rent increase of 1% or 2% a year would be appropriate. These are people who are looking for a quick profit and want to squeeze the most out of students or their parents. That is the reason we are seeing rent increases of 20% or 30%. One of these groups is GSA, which is one of the largest groups developing student accommodation in Europe or perhaps in the world. Another is Hines, the American group. Even in my area, some of those whose names we have often heard associated with building works in this city have been also associated with these developments. I urge the Minister to take on board this Bill and to act on it rather than merely listen to what we are proposing.

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