Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are but the next speaker should be here in time. It has been said that there are only two certainties in life, death and taxes, but perhaps rising Irish rents should be included in that old maxim because here we are again. Whether it is the latest Daft report, CSO statistics, the census or, as in this case, RTB data, we are talking about rents rising again and again. At exactly this time last year, Eurostat detailed how, over the previous 12 years, average rents here had increased by a whopping 82%. One year on, the RTB informs us that average rents increased by 11.6% year on year. This is the highest annual increase since the RTB began compiling this data series in 2007. Galway city, where I live, has the unfortunate distinction of having the second-highest rents at €1,577 a month. Although it comes in second place, it appears to be closing the gap on first place as it had the highest average increase for new tenancies, at 12.7%.

This is the devastating reality of the impact of the Minister's policies on workers and families. I see the pain, the anguish and the suffering this causes and that is why we need to listen to what is in this motion tonight. That is why we need to see a three-year ban on rent increases for existing and new tenancies and why we need to put one month's rent back in renters' pockets. Crucially, we need to look at affordable housing for Galway city because it has been left behind as regards affordable housing.

Young people have had not only their whole student experience, but their ability to access third level education, made far more difficult by this housing crisis. They are trying to live in cramped and overcrowded accommodation. I have seen several single beds in what looks like a hallway. People are also now couch surfing or commuting for hours upon end. How are they supposed to be able to do their third level education? A great many are dropping out because of the Minister's policies.

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