Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We need to clarify something. Fianna Fáil proposes an overall reform package to deal with rental inflation and increase the supply of affordable rental properties. The package proposes regulations to reduce excessive rent inflation and increase security of occupancy for tenants coupled with a range of incentives to expand the supply of rental properties. Incentives to increase supply include cheap financing for new build-to-rent units, incentives for landlords to maintain long-term leases, an empty property refurbishment grant to return some of the 260,000 vacant properties nationwide to the market and assistance for involuntary landlords in negative equity. We also propose more favourable tax treatment of rental income and measures to enhance the supply of affordable rental accommodation. If implemented, these proposals would bring some stability to the rental market.

We are all here because we all want rent certainty. One cannot compare Dublin, Cork and Limerick to the likes of my own area of Carlow, a rural town where one would rent a house for €800. One cannot compare that to cities. We must make sure there is a balance for everybody. We need to work together in the long term. We need rent certainty and Fianna Fáil is putting in a Bill-----