Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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578. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to urgently address the situation whereby old-age pensioners have seen their council rents increase, by the same amount as their pensions were increased in Budget 2025 as a cost-of-living measure, as it is unacceptable that this money is being swallowed by council rents instead of being made available to pensioners to assist with their day-to-day living expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2335/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.

Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved function of administering rent schemes. Local authorities carry out regular rent reviews to ensure that the rent payable by tenants reflects their income and their ability to pay. Any increases in income, including those from increases in the old age pension, are reflected in the rent calculated on foot of these reviews which are entirely matters for individual local authorities in line with the rent scheme it has in place. I have no role in this regard.