Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Minister says there is no need for a legal framework and talks about a working alliance with USI. Has he asked USI whether it feels there is a need for a legal framework because, increasingly, I hear about issues and problems that are arising in the digs sector? One in ten students lives in digs. This is not surprising given the fact that the major student accommodation providers in city centres are charging more than €1,000 per month. Students in digs can be evicted at a moment's notice, subjected to rent hikes at short notice with no rent caps applying and have no right to appeal to the RTB if the deposit is not returned to them. There are forms of exploitation in some digs arrangements such as students being asked to mow the lawn, collect the groceries or mind children, all of which are over and above the agreed rent, so there is a need for a regulatory framework and I would like to comment on the examples I have given.

See this speech in context