Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

Over the past ten or 11 years that I have been a public representative in Galway, every single year the rental situation gets worse. Over the past five years - between 2020 and 2025 - rents have increased by 75% in Galway city. In the past 12 months alone, rents in Galway city have increased by 12.6%. The average monthly rent is now €2,300.

As an Teachta Doherty said, our amendment is something for which we had campaigned for a very long time, but we were always told by the Ministers that it would only increase the money going into the pockets of landlords. We have always said that it had to be combined with a ban on rent increases. We now have a situation in Galway city whereby for people who come to my clinics and have a notice to quit, the reality of the situation is they are not going to find a place to rent in Galway city. That is unless they have a very high income or they know someone who might be willing to rent to them. The reality is that for most of them it is not going to be possible. People are deeply concerned about that because it means their children have to move school or they have to commute long distances for schools and that kind of thing.

This is really serious policy that, if done correctly, can work effectively, but if it is not done correctly it has serious consequences. This is my first time addressing the Minister as the new Minister for Finance. I wish him the best in the role. I hope that perhaps he can lead from the front today by accepting this amendment.

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