Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the pupils from St. Vincent's school in Marino, who are in the Visitors Gallery. We are talking about an issue that affects every family in the city, if not the country, the housing crisis.I have addressed the Minister of State, Deputy English, on this matter on several occasions. When the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, had responsibility for housing, he formed a cross-departmental group to examine short-term letting and he promised us action and policy. In November 2017, the current Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, said in this House that short-term letting and the rental market need policy development, ignoring the cross-departmental committee. In May 2018, he said that policy was being finalised in the Department. In June 2018, he promised that regulations would be published shortly. In August 2018, he said that he would bring plans to regulate short-term letting to Government in September. On 28 September 2018, he promised to publish proposals "next week". Just as tomorrow never comes, there is still no regulation in this area .

According to the figures provided by the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, regulation in this area would generate 1,000 additional units for rent. We are continually promised that action will be taken tomorrow. Why have we not had action? In Dublin 2, in one apartment block in Christchurch, there are only seven apartments for long-term rent to people working in the city who want to pay their way. I can give the Minister of State, Deputy English, the details in this regard. While researching the Airbnb website, I came across 60 units being let by seven hosts, all of them short-term lets, ranging from €2,100 per month for a one bedroom apartment to €4,300 per month. I could find no units with planning permission for change of use. We are in the middle of a housing crisis. The Minister of State has been in this House several times on this issue and he promised action "tomorrow" but as of yet we have seen no action. We still have a crisis. I am sure the Minister of State will respond to the effect that we need to address the supply issue. I have been raising this issue for two years and while there have been many promises of action tomorrow, there has been no action. This is not good enough. What I want to hear from the Minister of State is that the regulations are to be published immediately.