140. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage considering the testimony of witnesses before the Oireachtas housing committee stating that the proposed legislation would lead to increases in rents, and no witnesses stating that they believed rents would fall because of the legislation, his plans to ensure that changes to rent pressure zones and rent control legislation will not lead to higher rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5108/26]

Sentiment score: -0.06

We have record homelessness, with over 5,300 children homeless right now and living in emergency accommodation. We have a cost-of-living crisis, with families struggling to afford the basics, many of them renters. Hundreds of thousands of renters in the coming years, who are struggling to pay the basic costs of living, will not be able to afford the new market rent. Does the Minister agree that rents will increase as a result of these measures in the coming years? As a result of changes that he is about to make, rents are going to increase. That is the truth. Rents will be increased to market rent when tenancies change whereas there was a 2% rent cap when a tenancy changed previously. That is no longer going be the case. Can the Minister answer that straight question? Does he agree that rents are going to change and increase immediately in the coming years as a result of these changes?

Sentiment score: 0.04