Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the comments to the effect that there is no place for reckless scapegoating and deflection. New rents have increased by 9% over the last 12 months. Homelessness has increased by 22% in the same period. House prices are about to reach record levels, surpassing their Celtic tiger peaks. Analysis by Dr. Lorcan Sirr and Mr. Mel Reynolds shows that the number of new homes available to individual buyers last year fell to just 5,698, the lowest number in several years.

Home ownership levels are in freefall under the Government. We desperately need more homes that are affordable; instead, build-to-rent is dominating the supply of new housing, especially in Dublin. A total of 82% of all residential schemes that went for planning or got planning permission in 2020 in Dublin city were build-to-rent schemes. Despite this, the Planning Regulator has told Dublin City Council it must drop its plans to curtail build-to-rent because it conflicts with national policy.

Is it now national policy to allow build-to-rent to dominate the supply of housing? What is the Government doing to enable local authorities to curtail the dominance of build-to-rent?

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