Written Answers Nos. 173 - 195
173. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the loss of a teaching post in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17055/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie.
The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom teacher and also the improved appointment and retention thresholds for isolated one-teacher schools.
An appeals process is also available to small schools including the school referred to by the Deputy. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements. The closing date for the submission of appeals for the next meeting of the Appeals Board is Friday, 8 May, 2015.
The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
174. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will authorise the implementation of the agreed rates for jobs in an institute (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17057/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing lengthy discussions facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in August 2013 and February 2014, terms of reference were agreed for an internal job evaluation exercise to establish the correct rate of pay for the employees of all grades within the Tyndall National Institute. The terms of reference covered all staff in the Institute comprehended by the unions' parity claim, including those staff who were the subject of a previous Labour Court recommendation (LCR20577). The terms of reference provided for an Oversight Committee comprised of management and union representatives to monitor progress and prevent delays. An appeals process was also agreed between the parties which could be invoked following the conclusion of the evaluation exercise.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) were appointed to conduct the exercise following a tender process. The selection was made by a joint panel made up of representatives of the employer and both unions.
It was also agreed that, following completion of the internal job evaluation exercise, the parties would engage in discussions to seek agreement on the implementation of PwC's recommendations and the outcome of the appeals process. In the event that agreement could not be reached the matter would be referred to the Labour Court and the parties would be bound by the outcome.
The PwC job evaluation report was presented to the parties in December 2014. If implemented, the report, which covers 182 employees, would provide for an average annual salary increase of about €9,000 for 115 of the staff concerned. The report found that the remaining 67 staff are on a salary higher than the relevant UCC salary by an average of about €10,000 per annum. Implementation of the report would add in excess of €1,000,000 to the University's annual pay costs.
However, in January 2015 management in UCC was informed that union members in Tyndall had rejected the report. A conciliation conference was held in the LRC in February during which the unions sought to set aside the already agreed appeals procedure. Management advised that it was adhering to the agreed appeals process brokered by the LRC. No agreement was reached and at the unions' request the issue of the appeals process was referred to the Labour Court. The Court concluded that no recommendation it might make at this time would advance the resolution of the dispute.
In the meantime SIPTU & IFUT had balloted their members for industrial action. The two unions have now formally notified the University that there will be four days of strike action in May. The unions have confirmed that pickets will be confined to the entrance to Tyndall on the first three days but that the UCC campus will also be picketed on May 13th with the attendant risk of disruption to the conduct of examinations.
I am disappointed that SIPTU & IFUT have chosen to take industrial action instead of abiding by the agreed process for dealing with the job evaluation exercise.
175. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the building of a sports hall at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17063/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has an application on file from the school in question for a PE Hall. The school has five class teachers and enrolments are showing a slight decline in the current school year.
My Department's focus in recent years has been on prioritising the funding available for the provision of essential classroom accommodation. The school's application will be retained in the event of any future funding becoming available.
176. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a submission by a school (details supplied) in County Cork for additional accommodation space and the replacement of deteriorating prefabricated buildings. [17064/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is not in receipt of an application from the school, in question, in respect of its accommodation.
It is open to the school concerned to submit an application for consideration via form ASA (Additional School Accommodation) which is available on my Departments website at www.education.ie.
177. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the number of courses that are available to those on jobseeker's allowance on the Springboard and Skillnet website. [17070/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra178. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if participants who are on jobseeker's allowance and who are doing a course through Springboard have to pay to do their examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17071/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.
Springboard, which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, provides free, flexible reskilling and upskilling opportunities at higher education level for Jobseekers, unemployed and previously self-employed people in areas of emerging skills needs. Participants on Springboard courses do not have to pay tuition or examination fees.
A fifth phase of Springboard is being rolled out in 2015 with the title Springboard+ 2015 to reflect the increased, wide range of course opportunities available. Springboard+ 2015 will be launched in early May and full details of Springboard+ 2015 courses, together with the eligibility criteria, will be available on www.springboardcourses.ie.
In 2014, over 1,300 Skillnets courses were available to job-seekers and it is expected that the same number of courses will be available during 2015. Currently there are approx. 170 courses posted on the Skillnets website for job-seekers.
179. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will review its post-primary transport policy in respect of a student (details supplied) in County Leitrim, to facilitate that student in remaining in her current secondary school; if the scheme takes account of the length and safety of a journey from the family home to the bus collection point; if the policy considers the safety of the student making that journey when assessing the appropriate school for the student to attend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17074/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
As the Deputy is aware, the child in question is not attending her nearest school and is therefore not eligible for school transport. Only children who are eligible for school transport and who hold a valid Medical Card (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge.
Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and for the designation of pick-up and set-down points. In general, routes are planned to avoid an eligible child having to travel more than 3.2 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down point. Routes are planned on the basis of the locations of children who are eligible for school transport only.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from these designated pick up and set down points.
The terms of the scheme are applied equitably on a national basis and I am satisfied with the current eligibility criteria.
180. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will accept an application for the devolved school work scheme in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry, to carry out essential urgent roof replacement which is necessary due to the hazardous condition of the roof and slate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17085/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is open to school referred to by the Deputy to apply for funding under any future Summer Works Scheme (SWS). The purpose of the SWS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to facilitate schools carrying out small and medium scale improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities including roof replacement.
181. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider allowing documentation from the Department of Social Protection, showing that a social welfare inspector accepts that a person resides independently, for purposes of proving a person (details supplied) in County Donegal qualifies for a student grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17091/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.
This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at oireachtas@susi.ie. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.
If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI.
Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been interpreted correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.
182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify if the three year residence requirement for student grant assessments for Irish citizens begins immediately before the course begins or in the January of the year preceding the course. [17102/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 provides that the 3 out of 5 years residency requirement is satisfied on the day before the "relevant date". The Act defines "relevant date" as the date on which a year of study commences on an approved course.
Therefore, the required period of residency must be satisfied on the day before the first day of an approved course year.
183. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when funding will be provided to a library (details supplied) in County Limerick for a much needed library extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17104/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe needs of the College will be considered in the context of budgetary resources and having regard to competing demands.
184. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of children registered as living in the Milltown parish in Dublin 6 who are attending both primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17142/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not available. Data on enrolment in individual schools can be found on my Department's website at http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Data-on-Individual-Schools/.
185. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of spaces available for children to attend both primary and secondary school in Milltown parish in Dublin 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17143/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of the school. There is a responsibility on schools to manage their own enrolment policies to ensure that they operate within the level of accommodation available to them.
The Deputy will be aware that St Mary's National School will be providing an additional junior infant class in September 2015 to cater for the emerging demographic demand. I understand that the school authority is making arrangements to offer places in this class.
On 5th February last, I announced that seven new primary schools are to be established nationally in the next two years. Four are scheduled to open in 2015 and three will open in 2016. One of the schools to be established in 2016 will cater for demographic demand in the area referred to by the Deputy.
My announcement followed a detailed analysis of demographic data at primary level undertaken by my Department. Where that analysis identified areas for the expansion of existing schools, it is my intention to address these through the Five Year School Capital Investment Plan.
With regard to post primary provision, my Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation might be needed from 2017 onwards. On foot of this review, arrangements will be made to provide additional post-primary accommodation where this is needed.
It is open to schools to submit applications for funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed. The relevant application form may be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
186. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide, in tabular form, an update of all current and proposed building works for primary and post-primary schools in Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6 and Dublin 8, indicating in each instance a detailed description of the works being carried out, a time frame as to the completion and, where applicable, the start date of the proposed works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17144/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that over €2.2 billion in funding is being invested by my Department under its Five-Year School Capital Investment Plan (2012 – 2016). Over €1.5 billion of this is being allocated for the funding of major school building projects across the country. The balance is being used for programmes such as the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the Emergency Works Scheme and the acquisition of sites.
Details of all school capital works, including those in the areas referred to by the Deputy that have been funded by my Department may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this is updated regularly.
Further to the Five Year Plan, my Department is committed to publishing a detailed annual programme in relation to individual major school projects commencing construction. In this context, annual programmes have been published for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Details of the building projects included in these annual programmes are available on the website.
Under the Prefab Replacement Initiative 2012 and 2013 approval was given to 217 schools (209 primary and 8 post-primary) to replace 614 prefab units with permanent accommodation. In excess of €57m has been allocated to these initiatives. The list of schools approved under these prefab replacement schemes are also available on the website.
The Deputy will also be aware of the announcement in March 2014 of almost €72 million for school improvements under the first round of the Summer Works Scheme for 2014. On 2nd April 2015, I announced a further €36 million investment in the final part of the Summer Works Scheme. Details of the approved schools may also be viewed on the website.
The capital projects approved under the Additional Accommodation and Summer Works Schemes as well as the Prefab Replacement Initiative have been devolved to the individual school authorities for delivery. It is a central tenet of the devolved method that responsibility for the management and delivery of the project rests with the individual school authorities.
187. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a submission from Limerick City and County Council was received concerning acquisition and development of Brannigan's site on Mulgrave Street, Limerick, to create a community centre for the Garryowen area; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17002/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received a capital appraisal from Limerick City and County Council’s Regeneration office for the conversion of the premises at Brannigan’s for use as a community facility. Responses to questions my Department raised with the Council on the project were received recently and are now being examined. My Department will be responding to the Council shortly to identify the best approach to the further development of the building concerned.
188. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the roll-out of Leader; when he expects local groups and businesses will be able to apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17012/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the EU regulatory framework governing the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group(s) for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department is conducting a two stage process. The first stage, which is an Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage, was recently launched and any entity wishing to be considered as a Local Action Group for their area has until 15 May 2015 to submit an EOI. Further details are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/RuralDevelopment/EURuralDevelopment/RuralDevelopmentProgrammeLEADER2014-2020/SelectionProcessforLEADER2014-2020/ .
As part of this process my Department recently held six information sessions, two each in Nenagh, Tullamore and Sligo.
Local Action Groups successful in the first stage of the process will be invited and supported to design a Local Development Strategy for their area in stage two of the process which I envisage will begin in the early part of the third quarter of this year.
I expect that some Local Development Strategies will be operational and that funding of these Local Development Strategies will be available by Autumn 2015. It is at this point that local groups and businesses will be able to apply to the designated Local Action Group in their area for funding to support specific projects.
189. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when it is proposed to proceed with the climate change Bill 2014, which is due to be brought to Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann. [17025/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 was published on 19 January 2015 and completed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann on 25 March 2015.
Having regard to the debate at Second Stage, I am currently considering options for official amendments to the Bill, which would be subject to the approval of the Government. Once this process is completed, I intend to seek an early date for the taking of Committee Stage.
190. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when a foreshore licence will be issued to complete the main drainage scheme in Youghal, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17056/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Water recently submitted supplementary information in respect of this application, following a request by my Department under section 13A(1) of the Foreshore Act 1933. The supplementary information received from Irish Water has been issued for public consultation, and the latest date for submissions is today, 30 April 2015.
Following completion of the consultation phase, the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), which advises on foreshore consent applications, will finalise its report and recommendations prior to the application being submitted for my determination. I expect the application to come before me for determination in May.
191. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17073/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provided for the transfer of responsibility for the provision of public water services from the local authorities to Irish Water. The Act provides that Irish Water shall charge each customer for the provision of services provided by it in accordance with a water charges plan to be approved by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). A new water charging regime was announced by the Government on 19 November 2014. The Water Services Act 2014 provides that the capped annual charges will be €160 for single adult households and €260 for all other households until the end of 2018.
Metered households already have the opportunity to pay less than the capped bill, and Irish Water will be metering all dwellings where it is technically feasible to do so before the end of 2018.
It will be open to the CER to reduce the per unit price of €3.70 per 1,000 litres after 2016, in the context of determining the allowed revenue and efficiency challenges for 2017 and 2018. The CER has a statutory responsibility for ensuring that the interests of customers of Irish Water are protected. This will be central to the CER’s review of all costs and revenues of Irish Water in the context of the approval of water charges and the overall allowed revenue for Irish Water in future regulatory cycles.
The Government is determined that water charges will always remain affordable. Average charges will continue to be kept low through on-going subvention to Irish Water, and section 3(5) of the Water Services Act 2014 allows for a capped charge to also be set for 2019 onwards.
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the cost of tyres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17088/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) review report on Tyres and Waste Tyres published by my Department last year concluded that the current system for dealing with waste tyres is not functioning as intended, with a lack of basic information, poor structure, poor environmental outcomes in the form of large stockpiles of waste tyres and somewhere between 24% - 50% of waste tyres unaccounted for. The report also identified significant non-compliance among those with responsibilities under the current Waste Tyre Regulations.
In February 2015, I announced a move to a full Producer Responsibility Initiative (PRI) for tyres which will aim to rectify the deficiencies which have been identified in the current system. The new PRI scheme for tyres will comprise the following main features:
- A single compliance scheme for end-of-life tyres to be operated by Repak,
- The ending of the option to “self-comply” under the Regulations,
- Formalisation of the existing recycling charged by tyre retailers into a visible environmental management charge,
- The level of this visible environmental charge would be set by my Department and reviewed in two years,
- As part of the detailed design of the scheme, consideration by my Department, in consultation with the tyres and waste industry, as to whether the funding model is predicated upon a front-loaded or back-loaded model,
- A full audit and registration and reporting component (‘black box’) with a role for the WEEE Register Society, and
- An underpinning of the new regime, including enforcement and compliance measures, by a robust legislative base, including fixed penalty notices for certain breaches.
The figures referred to in the Question have no basis in fact. The central issue here is that motorists already pay an environmental charge when purchasing new tyres, which should go towards the proper end-of-life treatment of their old tyres. However, the contribution currently paid by the consumer is not being used for its intended purpose and hence there is a financial incentive to illegally dump waste tyres. This results in the taxpayer paying twice, initially at the point of purchase of new tyres and again through the costs incurred by local authorities and my Department to dispose of illegal stockpiles of tyres and other forms of illegal dumping.
The new arrangements that I am proposing will ensure that all of the financial contribution by the consumer will go towards the environmental management of waste tyres. It will also provide greater clarity, which is not currently available, around where the funding goes. The proposed charge is therefore a formalisation of an existing charge into a visible environmental management charge. The level of this charge will be set by my Department, in consultation with the tyre industry and will be reviewed two years after its introduction.
I want to end the current system in which the taxpayer pays twice and has no clarity on where either their contribution or their waste tyres go and replace it with a system that is based on the principle of producer responsibility for tyres which operates successfully in the majority of EU Member States.
193. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the time frames involved in allocating funds recently announced for local authorities to provide social housing; the way progress in this area will be checked and monitored with each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17112/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe social housing targets that I recently announced for all local authorities are out to 2017 and include almost 7,500 units that will be capital-funded and 15,400 current-funded units. My announcement also contained provisional funding allocations which are sufficient to deliver the targeted units.
The specific project approval and funding allocations to local authorities for new build and acquisition of social housing units will be based on the proposals they will be implementing to deliver social housing units, in line with the targets I announced. It is not a matter of simply allocating funding without having clear targets and projects for the delivery of new units by each local authority; funding allocations are being linked to delivery in a clear and firm way.
My Department has received proposals from the local authorities regarding their planned delivery of new social housing over the next 3 years and I will shortly announce approvals based on these proposals. I will be keen to see rapid progress thereafter and progress will be monitored via the governance structures that are in place under the Social Housing Strategy.
194. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the Pyrite Resolution Board and the Housing Agency in identifying and putting right any fire safety breaches during pyrite remedial works, in view of the fact that the guidelines issued by the Housing Agency are somewhat contradictory (details supplied) and in view of the very serious risks for homeowners arising from these works that have not been carried out. [17166/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pyrite remediation scheme is first and foremost a works scheme aimed at remediating dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave in the subfloor hardcore material. Remediation works are carried out in accordance with I.S. 398-2:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material - Part 2: Methodology for remediation works, published by the National Standards Authority of Ireland in January 2013, which sets out a clear methodology for the remediation of dwellings affected by pyrite in the subfloor hardcore.
The guidance provided by the Housing Agency in their Pyrite Remediation Scheme - Guide for Scheme Participants (January 2015) clearly sets out that the survey carried out by the construction professional, engaged by the Agency to prepare the remedial works plan, is not a full condition survey and, accordingly, is non-invasive. Any defects, damage or substandard works not attributable to pyritic heave, if such exist and are observed during the survey, are outside the scope of the scheme and should be investigated by the scheme participant’s own construction professional who will be able to advise on the severity of the issue and the appropriate action that should be taken to mitigate any risk to health and safety.
Under the scheme, remedial works are typically confined to the removal of hardcore from under the ground floor of the dwelling and from within 500 mm of the perimeter of the dwelling. However, where defects are discovered during the removal of the existing floor slab and the defective hardcore material, which impact on the structural stability of the dwelling and the health and safety of the occupants, the works contractor may, in accordance with good building practice, remedy such defects prior to the installation of replacement hardcore material and/or the reinstatement of the concrete floor slab. Any other defects, damage or substandard works which are not attributable to pyritic heave and are unaffected by pyrite remediation works (i.e. the removal and replacement of the concrete floor slab and hardcore material) remain the responsibility of the homeowners.
195. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding incomes and increasing rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17183/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFundamentally, the main cause of rising rents is a lack of supply in the market. The implementation of the range of actions under the Government’s Construction 2020 Strategy will support increased housing supply. New house completions in 2014 amounted to 11,016 units nationally, up 33% on the 2013 figure. In the third quarter of 2014, planning permissions were granted for 2,144 dwellings, compared with 1,409 units for the same period in 2013 - an increase of 52%.
In addition, the Social Housing Strategy 2020 published in November 2014 sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. The total targeted provision under the Social Housing Strategy of 110,000 social housing units includes the delivery of 35,000 units and a further 75,000 solutions through the HAP and RAS schemes.
The rent supplement scheme provides support to just over 70,000 people living in private rented accommodation. The operation of the scheme is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. The Department of Social Protection published a review of the maximum rent limits under the scheme on 27 March 2015 which is available through that Department’s website. Community Welfare officers have been reminded of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes and in June 2014, the Department of Social Protection agreed and implemented a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations. The protocol was extended to Cork City earlier this year.
I recognise that current rent levels are causing hardship and leading to difficulties, particularly for lower-income households. The time-lag in terms of ramping up supply to match demand is fuelling a marked increase in rents, especially in Dublin and the major cities. The Government is monitoring the rental market closely and is considering policy options in relation to achieving greater rent certainty. My overriding objective in relation to rents is to achieve stability and sustainability in the market for the benefit of tenants, landlords and society as a whole.
