Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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541. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his proposals to help renters; the measures put in place in this regard since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7828/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Recent Governments have introduced significant changes to the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 to 2024 (RTA) in the past number of years to enhance tenancy protections and increase the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

The RTB was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 to regulate the rental sector; provide information to tenants and landlords; maintain a national register of tenancies; resolve disputes between tenants and landlords; and conduct research and provide information to inform policy. My Department continues to work with the RTB to ensure it is sufficiently resourced to deliver on its expanded mandate, which includes sanctioning landlords for improper conduct since 2019.

The last Government brought in additional legal protections which provided for tenancies of unlimited duration for renters. All new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 become tenancies of unlimited duration after six consecutive months in occupation under the tenancy, without a valid notice of termination having been served. Tenancy termination notice periods were extended by approximately two months for tenants when serving a notice of termination (where there has been no breach of tenant obligations) in tenancies of less than three years’ duration; increasing to a notice period of 224 days for a tenancy of eight years. Improved procedures were put in place where a landlord is required to make an offer of re-let.

In addition, the period from the date of receipt of a ‘no fault’ Notice of Termination for a tenant to submit a dispute as to the Notice of Termination’s validity to the RTB for resolution has been increased from 28 days to 90 days and Notices of Termination must now be copied to the RTB at the same time as being served to the tenant and will be invalid if it is not so copied.

Further Government measures introduced to support renters include the increase in the tax credit for renters under Budget 2025 to €1,000 for each renter in a household and increased protections for students in purpose built student accommodation. Also, affordable Cost Rental homes coming onto the market under the Secure Tenancy and Affordable Rental (STAR) investment scheme is supporting the affordable delivery of new Cost Rental homes by the Land Development Agency and private providers.

The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future, published on 23 January 2025, commits to continuing its support for renters and landlords. This includes measures to protect renters and landlords from abusive practices by enhancing the enforcement powers of the Residential Tenancies Board and establishing statutory deadlines for dealing with complaints. The Programme for Government also commits to build more cost rental units through the Land Development Agency, local authorities and Cost Rental Equity Loan funding to Approved Housing Bodies, embedding cost rental as a category of tenure on a permanent basis.

I will work with my colleagues in Government to implement changes as necessary for the sector during this Governments term and my Department and the RTB keep the operation of the RTA and the residential rental sector under constant review and will work to ensure that an appropriately balanced policy and legislative framework is maintained and future changes will build on recently strengthened tenancy protections and supports.