Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister is quoting from a report on the refundable tax credits but the refundable tax credit in relation to rent relief will have no impact on the labour market and the Minister should acknowledge that. The report references refundable tax credits in relation to other matters. A refundable tax credit is doable and is possible but that is not at the core of this. There is an increase in those claiming the credit and that is to be welcomed. We would encourage everybody to claim not only this credit but all of the credits and allowances they have. As we approach the end of the year, a lot of people do not claim for expenses that are subject to reliefs. We encourage people to do that.

The numbers the Minister outlined are still dramatically low. This is two years of claims. The Government expected there would be 400,000 in the first year and 400,000 in the second year, so it is still dramatically low. It speaks to the fact that a lot of people are afraid to go to their landlord and ask for the detail around what is required here. They are afraid the landlord will push up their rents again. The Minister has not spoken to the fact. What is the Government strategy on rents? When will the Minister acknowledge that it has gone too bad? On average, new rents have gone up €5,000 since he took office. Is it when it goes up to €6,000 that the penny will drop? Is it €7,000 or is it €8,000? When will the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party actually say "Oh God we have done something terrible"?

Maybe that is the plan. Is it the case that it just wants to support landlords? It is a fact that this budget provides more support to landlords than it does to tenants. That is the reality. They are the priorities and that is the issue. When will the Government measure this and actually say that its policies are not working overall as regards rent prices?

See this speech in context