Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Government had the opportunity to seriously tackle the crisis in renting in budget 2022. However, it chose not to do so. It is hard to imagine a Government would knowingly and willfully ignore the obvious plight of thousands across the country who are forced each week to put aside greater and greater percentages of their income as they struggle to pay ever-increasing rents. While the cost of living rises and they are paying more in bills, the cost of putting a roof over one's head is reaching astronomical proportions. It is also leading to a brain drain from the country as some of our best in medicine and other professions are leaving as they cannot afford to rent a property, never mind buy one. The high cost of living is also a barrier to recruiting from abroad or indeed enticing people back to our country.

A simple glance at daft.ieshows an apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms in Dublin North-West can average up to €2,000 per month in rent. Very few individuals and couples, even when both are in employment, can pay such high rents without having to make major sacrifices in other areas of their lives. These rents are more often than not what most people pay each month for a mortgage. Such exorbitant rents, on top of a family having to pay for childcare, school costs, healthcare, transport and so on would clearly leave most with no disposable income as they would be effectively living hand to mouth. There is a genuine fear from many people that they could end up being homeless if trends in rent rises continue.

The Government is not putting in place measures that can give individuals and families the security of tenure they need. People are stressed, scared and feel they are in a hopeless situation without any respite or way out of their predicament. This Government has left them behind and budget 2022 proves that. We hear every day of the difficulties renters face and we have family members of our own who are going through the same hardships. Rents are spiralling out of control and this must be stopped. Rents must be brought back to a more equitable level.

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