Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Ó Ríordáin's proposal to amend the Order of Business.

After the Order of Business yesterday, I introduced a Bill on short-term lettings. Yesterday evening, I was targeted by an ad for hassle-free hospitality for short-term lets. When I filled in the form, Airsorted offered €5,250 a month profit on letting a two-bedroom house in the centre of Dublin. How could ordinary workers have an opportunity to rent premises at €5,250 a month? Airsorted was also offering hassle-free hosting, cleaning, laundering and providing keys. The rent for the same unit is €2,000 a month. Is it any wonder that 3,500 units previously let on a long-term basis by ordinary working people have gone to short-term letting?

I hounded the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, when he was Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and I continue hound the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. Each of them has repeatedly promised legislation, but nothing has happened. Last year after a circular on planning enforcement for short-term lets was issued, the number of enforcements reduced instead of increasing. There is a real problem that is not being addressed.

I welcome the announcement on the flood-relief work. I remind the House and the Minister, that more than six years ago I worked alongside Brian Hayes, MEP, who was then Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, to get a memorandum of understanding with Insurance Ireland, representing the insurance companies, to ensure that when flood protection work was carried out up to a once-in-150-year standard residents in areas covered by that could receive flood insurance. Every week I get a query about flood insurance despite millions of euro of taxpayers' money having been spent in areas such as Clonmel, Dublin, Limerick and Cork. The impact is that people in larger family residences cannot sell their homes to young couples because those young couples cannot get a mortgage unless they have flood insurance. We have been calling for action for six years and nothing has happened.