Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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85. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will commit to a public information campaign to inform tenants of their existing rights and protections under residential tenancies legislation, in light of reports that tenants are being warned by landlords of potential exits from the rental market ahead of new tenancy rules coming into effect in March 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2559/26]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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On 14 October 2025, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2025, which is now the subject of priority drafting by the Office of Parliamentary Council. The Bill will amend the current system of rent controls and provide new measures to protect tenants, including stronger security of tenure, to come into effect for new tenancies created on or after 1 March 2026.

The text of the Bill will be finalised for publication as soon as possible, taking account of input from the sector and interested parties. The Bill will be subject to debate, and open to amendment, during the legislative process in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

On of the key roles of the Residential Tenancies Board, (RTB), which was established as a quasi-judicial independent statutory body under the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2025 is to provide information to tenants and landlords.

A detailed communications campaign by my Department, in conjunction with the RTB, will continue to publicise the new legislative measures from 1 March 2026. My Department will continue to work closely with the RTB on the implementation of these critical reforms and the RTB will continue to provide relevant information to tenants and landlords.

Up-to-date information is available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/government-reforms-to-the-rental-sector-starting-1-march-2026/.