Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Healy-Rae. He made some good suggestions and they have to be taken on board, especially his point on partaking in any reviews. There has to be a question of balance, in particular of tenants' rights. We cannot overdo it and take away tenants' rights. They are entitled to have a right of tenure so they are not in precarious situations. The regulation of landlords has to be balanced. It has to be worth someone's while to stay in the rental sector; otherwise, we will lose properties to private sale, etc., to people who may not necessarily need them as a primary home. That has to be taken into account, and the Deputy has made that point well.

Regarding vacant houses, we will have to make a very difficult decision. In tourism towns in my constituency, as I am sure is the case in the Deputy's constituency, there are rows of houses that are completely vacant. I am sure that, when canvassing, the Deputy knocked on doors and found about ten houses in a row where there was no one there. A lot of those houses are used for Airbnb accommodation and short-term lets. We need short-term lets. Places like Kerry need them for tourism - that is 100% correct - but we have to strike a balance. We cannot have whole streets taken up with Airbnb accommodation, which is what has happened in some towns.

Whether through taxation or other measures we take, I agree with the Deputy there are issues and people are having difficulties in renting out their properties. We may need to review the Croí Cónaithe fund or increase the number of grants available. Whatever we need to do to get these vacant properties into the rental market, we should do. I again thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

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