Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the research or evidence he has that demonstrates than an increase in high-cost private rental accommodation will, over time, bring down rents. [6639/26]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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On 10 June 2025, the Government approved policy measures including modifications to rent controls to come into effect on 1 March 2026 in order to boost investment in the supply of homes available for rent and keep existing landlords in the market. The changes agreed will also provide significantly stronger tenancy protections and are finely balanced between the interests of tenants and the need for further private investment in the rental market across the country, taking account of stakeholder engagement.

The modifications to rent controls have been informed by the findings of the Housing Agency Review of Rent Pressure Zones and Potential Policy Options. This review was undertaken to assess the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) since their introduction and consider their impact on the market and relevant stakeholders, including the retention of landlords and new investment in rental properties. It was also to consider whether RPZs should continue without change or be removed, modified or replaced.

The review, which is published on the Housing Agency website, involved engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, including investors, representatives of landlord and tenant advocacy groups, academics and the RTB. The Housing Agency submitted its report to my Department at the end of April and advised that its preferred recommendation was to modify the current RPZ rent controls and also recommended allowing landlords to reset rents to market levels between tenancies while providing for stronger tenant protections to guard against economic evictions. Taking account of the Housing Agency report and its preferred recommendation, the Government approved changes to rent regulation, which will be introduced nationally from 1 March 2026.

The review does indicate that the provision to reset rent between tenancies may see some rent inflation but that this is expected to moderate as new supply comes on-stream. A tenant moving into a property will have certainty that their future rent can only increase by inflation – up to a 2% maximum in all tenancies other than new apartments.

The RTB Rent Index report, published quarterly, is designed to measure developments in rental prices faced by those taking up new tenancies in the private rental sector and more recently, utilising Annual Registration data, existing tenancy rent price developments. This information is available on the RTB website.

Government is establishing a more robust legal and policy framework to support increased investment in the rental market, to increase supply and choice for renters and, over time, reduce market rents. This will include ensuring that the legal framework supports domestic and international investment in the delivery of new rental properties, in particular the supply of new apartments.

Government has committed in excess of €9 billion in funding for housing through the Exchequer, the Land Development Agency (LDA) and the Housing Finance Agency in 2026. Delivering Homes, Building Communities, published on 13 November 2025, is Ireland’s new national housing plan. It focuses on ensuring that a robust Starter Homes for Rent programme will expand Cost Rental as a tenure option. As the tenure continues to be rolled out, it provides more options for long-term rental accommodation with secure tenures for thousands of renters, assisting eligible households in the private rental sector. It is also expected that the development of the Cost Rental sector will have a moderating impact on the wider rental market, putting downward pressure on market rents over the longer term.