Seanad debates

Friday, 11 December 2020

Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage

 

10:00 am

Photo of Paul GavanPaul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move recommendation No. 6:

In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following:

“Report on income tax relief

11.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on an income tax relief equivalent in value to 8.3 per cent of annual rent to all private rental tenants not already in receipt of any State subsidy, examining the social and economic impact of this measure in the context of high levels of rent.”.

This recommendation relates to the important issue of tax relief for renters. The €43 million allocated to the help to buy scheme stands in stark contrast with the consistent refusal of this Government and previous governments to assist renters. We all know the crisis in the rental market and the extortionate rents that are in place on our doorsteps and throughout the country. In my city of Limerick, there are two-bedroom apartments that one could not give away years ago. They had to install flat-screen TVs to entice tenants to take them. Such apartments are now going for €1,200 a month. Working people are pushed to the pin of their collar.

Sinn Féin has consistently proposed a tax relief for renters. It would be the equivalent of one month's rent. It is a reasonable proposal which would make a tangible difference to hundreds of thousands of people in this State. The Government has rejected that consistently. It is disappointing that whenever these things come up, for better or worse, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael tend to side with the landlords rather than the tenants.

The proposal we make today is to do a report. It is a simple request to do a report on the issue to tell us how it would look in terms of taxation. It would be a step in the right direction. It is a reasonable and sensible proposal and I would hope someone on the Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael benches would have something to say in defence of renters, as opposed to landlords.

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