Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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97. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will implement protections for students from excessive rent increases that may occur following on from the new rent rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39573/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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On 10 June 2025, the Government approved stronger tenancy protections and greater certainty for the rental sector, including the introduction of a national rent control, as part of a suite of measures to boost the supply of new homes and secure and grow the availability of rental accommodation.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2025 was signed into law on 19 June 2025. The Act came into operation on 20 June 2025 to immediately extend and expand the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) to cover the entire country until 28 February 2026. Further legislation is being developed to provide stronger tenancy protections and allow rent resetting to market value for new tenancies created (i.e. first time tenancies between parties) from 1 March 2026. With the exception of new build apartments, annual rent increases in all tenancies will be capped at the level of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 2%. For new build apartments, annual rent increases will be capped at the level of inflation (CPI).

I have also consulted with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in relation to specific arrangements to apply to student specific accommodation. I propose to bring the General Scheme of the Bill of the Bill to Government later this month.

Increasing the availability of suitable, financially accessible student accommodation is a key policy priority for Government and will be addressed in the new Student Accommodation Strategy, being developed by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for publication later this year. Affordability and equity will be at core of the Strategy.