As other Deputies have referred, when the RTB published data, it confirmed a huge upsurge in evictions in the first three months of this year alone. A figure of roughly 7,000 was mentioned but in Dublin, which includes my constituency, 2,500 householders were handed notice during this period. During the debates last year and at the very start of this year, the Government's argument was that allowing landlords to reset the vacant properties to the new full market rates was necessary, especially to try and attract institutional investors and, to a lesser extent, keep smaller landlords in the market. I agree with keeping smaller landlords in the market but there has been an over-reliance on institutional investors. Ultimately, the crisis will be solved by increasing the overall supply of rental accommodation. I disagreed at the time with this argument and now we have this glaring loophole because landlords can reset the rent for vacant properties to the full market rates using this overcrowding clause to bypass tenant protections. Ordinary families across Dublin and the country have done nothing except have a family member return or have a child and they are being legally forced out. Average rents have surpassed €2,300 a month and emergency accommodation has also been maxed out. The Minister has to support legislative amendments to close this loophole and we need to focus on helping hard-pressed people by introducing a rent freeze immediately.

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