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

Again, it comes down to facts. This is about the provision of an in-depth analysis of where we are going, which, of course, is very laudable. The Business Postrecently did an analysis piece on the projected rent increases, particularly in County Dublin, and what that will mean. In the near short term of, I think, three years it is projected that they will increase by 25%. If you take the rents that are being paid in Dublin and its environs at present and add on 25% or, perhaps as suggested by Deputy Ó Broin up to 50% in six or seven years, that is not just worrying, it is frightening. It is a return to the nonsense which we all fell foul of and all that we did wrong during the boom. The boom subsequently went bust. My late father always said that there is no problem in making a mistake provided you have the ability to learn from that mistake. The real sign of insanity is when you keep making the same mistake over and over in the hope that you will get a different outcome.

I am still confused. I would like to think I have good handle on this, but I am still confused as to how we can turn this ship around and sail it in the right direction. I will repeat what I said previously. This should not be an Opposition versus the Government or a tit-for-tat between anyone of us. There is an onus of responsibility on everyone in this House to knock our heads together to come up solutions. I have read the analysis piece and the synopsis of it. I am convinced that it is factual to say that those rents are going to increase by that amount if we cannot do something. In doing something, we have to be careful that we are doing the right thing. We cannot allow a situation where rents that are already exorbitant are going to up by, perhaps, 50% in six or seven years' time and 25% in as little as three years. How can we keep chasing our tail in that way and expect people to be able to live?

We cannot lose sight of the fact that when talking about this issue we are talking about real people who need money in their pockets to live, buy food, educate their children and run their vehicles to get to and from work. It is awful to think of people not having a bit of money in their pockets for the comforts they are perfectly entitled to and that every penny they have will have to go on ever-increasing rents.

We have to look at what is being proposed here. This is sensible. What is being sought is not an outrageous ask. I am interested in hearing what the Minister of State has to say about it.

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