Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish everybody a happy International Women’s Day. Ba mhaith liom mo dhlúthpháirtíocht a chur in iúl do mhná na hÉireann agus trasna an domhain. Is Seachtain na Gaeilge, nó coicís na Gaeilge, é chomh maith agus is mór an tábhacht a bhaineann lenár gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid agus ár dteanga dhúchais a cheiliúradh.

On foot of the announcement about the eviction ban by the Government last Monday, I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to come in here to explain in precise detail how he is going to protect the thousands of individuals and families who have an eviction notice hanging over them. We know that at least 5,444 eviction notices were served last year and we do not yet know how many were served during the first two months of this year. We all know, across this Chamber, that the lifting of the ban will have a devastating impact. The reality is that people simply do not have anywhere to go. Yesterday, I looked at daft.ieand at the accommodation available in the areas I know best. I discovered that Dublin 7 has 21 housing units with an average rent of over €2,000, Dublin 1 has 26 units for rent at an average rent of €2,600 and Dublin 9 has only 27 properties for rent with an average rent of €2,500. Who can afford to pay that amount of rent? While an interminable eviction ban is not the answer - supply is the answer - the reality is that Dublin has a completely distorted housing market, which is dominated by build-to-rent, co-living and student accommodation with very little social and affordable housing or, indeed, conventional apartments being built. In my own area, 6,500 expensive student accommodation build-to-rent and co-living units are either going through the planning system, under construction or waiting to be built. There is a very serious issue brewing because when the supply comes along, it still will not meet the needs of those who need accommodation. We need the Minister to come in here and explain to us how he sees the next number of months turning out and how he will protect the thousands of families and individuals.