Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As with previous speakers, I start by thanking the Union of Students in Ireland for bringing forward a solution in this area and campaigning on an issue which impacts USI members, as it does on many issues which impact students in Ireland. I also thank the Government for allowing this Bill to progress to pre-legislative scrutiny in order that we can examine some of the measures in it. There may be legal questions with some of its provisions but the joint committee will examine these. I also thank the Opposition for using its time to allow this Bill to be introduced.

The Bill deals with student-specific accommodation and includes safeguards in relation to student rents and other protections. It is billed as the Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Bill 2021. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, and I have engaged with the Union of Students in Ireland. I thank the USI for dealing with each party as it has allowed us all to support the principles of the Bill and bring forward solutions.

Covid-19 is not the only obstacle with regard to student accommodation. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I supported the protests by the students' union at Dublin City University about the Shanowen shakedown and we subsequently supported the amendments made by the then Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. That whole debacle highlighted the complex area of student accommodation.

I am pleased to hear what the Minister has just said to the House. I have not heard him outline so specifically the proposed general scheme of a Bill on tenants reforms. I hope I did not misunderstand him but he appeared to inform the House that he intends to limit the up-front payments to which so many students are subjected. I hope those reforms will be with us long after Covid-19 has gone so that students will benefit.

The Minister outlined to the House that the Government would bring forward measures that students and all tenants will be protected from initial rent payments up front. Students and tenants will welcome the news that up-front payments will be limited to one month's rent plus one month's deposit, and that, thereafter, monthly payments will be made one month in advance. In addition, landlords will be legally obliged to adhere to that practice and sanctions of up to €30,000 will apply to landlords who breach that requirement. Students and tenants will welcome this commitment, particularly families who do not have access to large savings and have been discriminated in the market by being forced to compete with others who can pay three, four or five months' rent in advance.

Students living in student-specific accommodation will welcome the Government's commitment but it will also benefit students outside student-specific accommodation.

The Minister made previous commitments about the maximum termination notice period for students by which many are affected. He has brought forward proposals to match the ambition of the USI's Bill. I congratulate the USI. This is a great example of the House working together to deliver a solution.

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