Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Homeownership has collapsed on the Taoiseach's watch. That is not just my opinion or view. I do not say that from a position of bias. That is the fact of the matter. We have runaway rent, record levels of homelessness, and rents that are crippling people. That is the fact. The figures that I have quoted to the Taoiseach are from the Residential Tenancies Board. It also reports that existing rents - not new rents but existing rents - are up by 5.5% in Dublin and 5% across the State. This is a bad news story all around. I am simply asking the Taoiseach to intervene at a time where he has to know how badly people are struggling. He has to know that if he lives in the real world at all. Families, workers and young people are really struggling to keep a roof over their heads. I am simply asking the Taoiseach to intervene and do a thing that is eminently sensible. For three years, make it the case that there can be no further increase in rents. Just ban rent increases for three years. It is common sense and it answers directly the experience, situation and hardship that so many families, workers and young people are experiencing now.

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