Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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71. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action he will take to prevent rent hikes by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65489/25]

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. This system is known as the ‘differential rents’ system. It is a critical piece of State’s welfare apparatus, subsidising housing costs and supporting households who can’t meet their long-term accommodation needs from their own resources. The system currently comprises 32 income-based schemes which differ across local authorities, with amounts charged and approaches to calculating rent varying considerably.

The making or amending of such rent schemes is 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 authorities carry out regular rent reviews to ensure that the rent payable by tenants reflects their income and their ability to pay. The carrying out of rent reviews and any resultant increases in the rent charged are entirely matters for individual local authorities in line with the rent scheme it has in place.

The new Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities, commits to reviewing the rents paid by social housing tenants with a view to introducing an equitable system of rents which is fair, progressive, sustainable, and which protects the most vulnerable.