Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for coming to the House and for the work he and his Department have done to bring forward this interim legislation. With almost 250,000 registered tenancies in the country, an awful lot of people living in rented accommodation need what the Minister is promising to deliver through this legislation and all the other work he is doing: certainty, stability and clarity. It is important that people have security and know they have a home that meets their needs. I know the Minister understands the crisis and emergency around housing. I appreciate the work he and the Department are doing.

All the NGOs must also be recognised, as well as the local authorities, the approved housing bodies and those who invest their private equity in increasing housing supply. The latter are often pilloried and demonised, particularly by the Opposition, but it must be recognised that we need all types of homes. We need the State to provide homes and there is historical, unprecedented State funding going in to increasing supply and affordability. It is also important that there is private investment. That private investment will come from developers, construction companies, banks and private equity, as well as from investment funds and other ethical investors.

If we are to encourage that investment, it is important to increase supply and to provide certainty, clarity and stability. This interim measure the Minister is bringing forward will introduce that. Most importantly for renters, it extends rent pressure zone protections. That means that for the first time renters all over the country, no matter where they are, will be protected by rent pressure zones. There will not be one level of protection for a renter in one location and another level in another location. There will be equality for renters. In bringing forward this interim measure, it is important to communicate this to renters. There has been clear communication from the Minister but as the legislation passes in the Seanad today, hopefully, and is signed by the President, there should be further communications to the general public. It is important people know rent pressure zones are extended, the caps are extended to all renters and the Minister will progress legislation that will introduce from next March the new scheme which will involve for the first time a national rent control, end no-fault evictions, cap rents at inflation and only allow resetting of rents when there is a change of tenancy. It is shifting protections to renters, which is important.

I ask the Minister and the Department, when progressing the legislation for March 2026, to look at other areas around renters that need attention. The rent register should be progressed. I know the Department has been working on it. Could the Department progress a deposit scheme for renters in parallel? I know additional resources have been given to the RTB but a review of the adequacy of those resources and the operations, effectiveness and accessibility of the RTB for all renters would be important.The Minister said in his opening comments that this is only one element, and I want to acknowledge that. I acknowledge the energy the Minister has applied to what is a huge task, one that I know is a top priority for Government.

Increasing housing supply and affordability will not be achieved through this one Bill but it is an important step and an important legislative development. For that reason we will obviously be supporting it. I also heard the Minister mention the planning exemptions he is progressing, which are very important. Everything that can be done should be done to accelerate the increased supply of homes through planning exemptions, the land zonings the Minister is progressing and the work he is doing in increasing funding to Irish Water and the utilities that are so essential to the building of new homes.

We and the Department must also look at something that was done by the previous Government, that is, the increase in funding for social and affordable housing, and not just affordable housing to purchase but also to rent. Affordable cost rental in urban areas is essential. It was an exceptional achievement to get it through from a legislative perspective to being progressed as a policy and progressed with funding. To actually see affordable homes being advertised in Dublin city is welcome. The Minister knows this; I have heard him speak about it. There is a massive appetite in urban areas for the affordable cost rental model, one that provides affordable rents on a long-term basis in a stable, secure home.

I hope that when we come back in September for the autumn term and we are progressing the Minister's legislation for post March 2026, he will also be able to talk to the House about what is being done to accelerate the supply of rental homes and, most importantly, affordable cost rental. In urban areas, it is really important that people have the opportunity to rent affordably and securely in a stable environment and in well-maintained properties.

I commend the Minister on the work he has done. I thank him for coming to the House. We will be supporting the Bill.