Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Nothing the Government has done has had any impact whatsoever on rising rents. These are not unique to our larger cities and towns. In my constituency, rents are up in County Roscommon by more than 22% in the past year. On average, renters are now paying €912 and rising every single month. At the same time, every other outgoing in that house has also increased. In County Galway, there has been a 19% increase in rents. They have now surpassed €1,100 with renters paying €1,138 a month and rising. The consistent Government response to this is supply, but renters cannot wait for that, especially when supply is there but an investment fund comes in, takes it up and that supply is gone.

Young people of my generation cannot save a deposit to own their own home. They are now leaving, as they have done previously, because they cannot afford to live in Ireland. That is a reality. They are in a position now where they do not want to work just to live, pay their rent and pay their bills; they want a life. These are young people who are coming out of college and starting work and we are driving them out of this State, as we have done previously. It is not working. It is a sad indictment, in 2022, that so many people cannot afford to live in this State. They have good jobs and are well educated but they cannot get by. That does not make any sense. What the Government has done to date in respect of rents has had no impact whatsoever. We have to support renters to allow them to work and live here, rather than to leave, as many of my generation have already and, unfortunately, continue to.

See this speech in context