Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There were quite a number of questions. Deputy Lahart's comments on children and young people not having a sufficient voice during the pandemic struck me and resonated with me. I take his point of view on board very seriously with regard to providing for the expression of their perspectives as we move through the summer and into the autumn period, particularly with regard to the reopening of colleges, further education and third level education. We are committed to this reopening and to making sure their voices are taken on board. We are also committed to facilitating young people's return to college and their early vaccination in the third quarter. Yesterday, the Ark centre, in an innovative initiative, brought children in to communicate with Members of Dáil Éireann and the Oireachtas generally with regard to their perspective on the pandemic. This was covered on RTÉ yesterday evening. It was excellent.

Deputy Kelly raised the issues affecting the younger generation, young people and renters. I accept that renters need a break. The rent protections legislation the Minister is bringing in later is important and should be supported. It will provide for an extension of the Covid rental provisions for a further six months, until 20 January 2022. It will also involve the first ever cost-rental units, which will be rented at 25% lower than market rents. More than 400 such units will be built and occupied before the end of this year. That is a start. We need to do far more. Rent pressure zones are being reviewed and rental supports will be dealt with through new legislation. The Minister will engage late in the Dáil with the various spokespeople for the different parties. This is an issue of which I am very conscious, particularly with regard to the increases that are occurring. We have also had a decline in the number of landlords of approximately 3,000 over the past year, which is problematic in terms of supply in the marketplace.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised an issue with regard to musicians and performers. Again, I would argue that the Government has been very supportive through a range of schemes for artists and musicians in different settings. The Ministers, Deputies Catherine Martin and Foley, have developed a new initiative in respect of artists-in-residence for schools. This is a new and significant scheme. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has engaged with all of the interests involved on an ongoing basis and will continue to do so.

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