Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government finally moved on the issue of the rent tax credit and introduced a watered-down version of the Sinn Féin proposal. However, the requirement for the landlord to be registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, excludes so many, including students. Will the Taoiseach clarify whether RTB registration is a requirement? This punishes renters for landlords not following the rules. Students under the rent-a-room scheme and digs-style accommodation are also excluded. This is particularly galling for parents when the Government promoted this heavily as its solution to the student housing crisis this year. The tax credit is also restricted to rentals in the State, meaning that a family in Donegal with a student studying in Derry is excluded as are students forced to study abroad because there is no place for them here. PhD researchers are also excluded as they are not recognised as workers. Parents and students are technically included but it seems that no effort was made to include them in practice.

Will the Taoiseach urgently review this?

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