Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is correct. There are many people renting who do not want to rent, although some at different stages of their lives will. That is why we took a measure to increase the renter's tax credit to €750. Between 2022 and 2023, that is €1,750 per renter back in their pocket.

The private rental market is not functioning as it should. That is why we must ensure that we try to keep good landlords in the market. That is why this Government brought forward measures to reduce costs for good landlords that are in the market. They are modest but on the basis of landlords keeping their properties in the market. That is where we have seen much of the pressure with landlords exiting the market. We have to fill that hole with cost-rental homes, which, thankfully, we are doing, and affordable purchase homes from approximately €166,000.

There are others who would remove completely that modest support to retain properties in the private rental sector. Last week, a motion tabled by the main Opposition party was quickly withdrawn and replaced by a Private Members' motion on the RTÉ licence fee this week. It kind of shows the priority others have with regard to stabilising the private rental market.

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