Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the interests of accuracy, the rent tax credit scheme is run by the Department of Finance so I am offering information to be helpful as I know it to the House as opposed to being accountable to the House for the administration of the rent tax credit scheme, which is done by the Revenue Commissioners.

I agree with the Deputy about affordability but I also think there is a real focus on the issue of supply. We know that even at current rates, on-campus accommodation is over-subscribed. From memory, for every one bed that was rented in Maynooth on campus, there were five or six students who would have rented the bed so I see it as a twin-track issue. It is about supply because, and I am not saying it is easy, there are students renting existing accommodation on campus so we need more supply but we also need to make sure that affordability is to the forefront, particularly in any public investment.

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