Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to declare an interest in this whole issue. I feel privileged to talk about it. The movers of the motion are dead right in what they are saying about security of tenure, particularly when we are talking about students. We talked last night about the hardship students and parents go through when all they are trying to do is educate themselves, get on in life and have accommodation while they are doing so. However, we have to be very measured and tempered in one thing. This and previous Governments, going back as far as we want to go, have not provided adequately for people who need accommodation. The private sector has had to make it up.

I hate talking about anybody who is not in the Chamber but another Deputy said it was time rents were halved. I agree 100% that we have to have realistic rents and do not want them to be too high. At the same time, if people are going to be involved in the private sector, if they are going to purchase properties and renovate them, as Deputy Collins rightly said, and make them available, it is going to cost money. They are going to need to have a reasonable and fair rent. I am not talking about extortionate rent. They have to make their payments and so on. If it does not wash its face, it does not work.

If a person gets €100 in rent from a tenant, 60% of that goes back to the Government in one way or another. The person who owns the property has €40 out of every €100. That is a terrible important point for the Government to understand. When other Deputies are talking about extortionate rent, they should remember that 60% is going back to the Government. Maybe the Government should look at itself when it is talking about rents being too high. Maybe it should consider doing something about tax. If it wants to encourage people in the private sector, rather than having them pay over 50% tax it should give them a reduction. Then they could afford to have cheaper rent for the tenants. The Government should not land it all at the feet of those who are buying property and trying to make it available for rent.

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