Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Those of us who have had children in college know what a money pit third level education can be. I would advise anybody watching with small children to start saving now. When they have to go away to college and digs, that is when the rent cruelty and the risk often happen, which is what we are trying to prevent with these provisions. I commend my comrade an Teachta Mairéad Farrell on her work on this Bill along with Eoin Ó Broin.

I was listening to Martin Kenny talking about rag week. We have Christmas Day and there is always a party at Maynooth University. Maynooth is where I live and it is in my constituency. I am well aware of how parents and students are put to the pin of their collar to pay the rent when they attend Maynooth University for their course. Digs are really handy and they make it much more affordable. When rents and living costs are so high, we have a duty to look after students in the informal arrangements of digs when they are renting a room in a house with very little protection in their tenancy or any tenure. We have all heard of the horror stories of students arriving in the house to find that they also have housework to attend to. They might have au pair duties that were not mentioned at all. We have heard of kids being kicked out in the middle of the night being frantic. There is also the issue of not being able to have a lock on their door. Mairéad Farrell discussed that earlier. That is really critical when we are talking about the safety of our girls and our women.

I am very glad with what we are proposing this evening because it balances any previous imbalance in the relationship where people letting out the rooms had extremely good tax breaks but the person renting had very few protections at all. There are simple things like a rent book, entitlement to 30 days' notice, and reasonable use of the kitchen, the bathroom, laundry facilities, etc.

They are not rocket science and are critical for the safety and peace of mind of our student renters. We also propose to oblige renters to pay their rent on time, and to behave themselves and adhere to the rules of the house. It is about respect, common sense, protection and practicality. I commend Deputy Farrell and her practical work on this important issue.

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