Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

324. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of RAS properties within the jurisdiction of Galway City Council that had their rents increased at the market rate above the rent pressure zone rate of 4% on dates (details supplied); the number of RAS properties’ rents in Galway City Council’s jurisdiction that increased above the 4% RPZ cap after 27 January 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44139/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The information requested is not available in my Department.

The Government’s Strategy for the Rental Sector (published on 13 December 2016) recognises that rapidly increasing rental inflation is the most significant challenge to security of tenure in the rental sector and that there is a need for a targeted, time-bound and transparent policy response to the issue of rising rents.  To address this, the Government introduced the Rent Predictability Measure.  This measure, which was provided for through the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, introduced the concept of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to moderate the rate of rent increases in those areas of the country where rents are highest and rising quickly.

Galway City was designated as a RPZ on 27 January 2017.  This means that rent increases in Galway City are capped at a maximum of 4% per annum for up to three years.

Rent reviews in respect of dwellings made available for social housing under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and located in RPZs must be undertaken in compliance with the governing RPZ legislation.  It is a matter for Galway City Council, as the lessee in RAS contracts, to ensure compliance with the RPZ legislation in respect of RAS dwellings.