Menu
02/07/2019
SF Call For More Action To Control Rent In Cork
Sinn Fein TD for Cork East Pat Buckley has called for more to be done to control the "unaffordable" levels of rent in the area.
It comes as a further 19 Rent Pressure Zones have been added across 11 counties. Deputy Buckley welcomed the news that annual rent increases will be limited in Midleton and Fermoy, but said many young people and families across east Cork will continue to struggle.
Deputy Buckley said: "I have been calling for the inclusion of East Cork's larger towns to be included in the RPZ's since early on in the scheme. Even before the scheme was introduced, towns like Midleton and Fermoy had seen large increases in rents which had left many struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their head. One family that contacted me in early 2018 had been given a 78% increase in just one year.
"I want to pay tribute also to my colleague Sinn Féin Councillor Danielle Twomey who led the charge at council level to demand this change for our area.
"The inclusion of Midleton and Fermoy as RPZ's will help to stop these exorbitant and unreasonable increases but, in reality, it is a sign that things have already gone way too far. The average rent of properties for Fermoy and Midleton on Daft right now is over €1200 a month.
"The Minister said in his announcement that rents are currently unsustainable and that he anticipated the need to add these areas. If that's the case, he has failed utterly in his duty. The requirement for regulating rent should not be that it has already become unsustainable. Why did he not listen to either myself or Deputy Eoin Ó Broin years ago on this issue? His rejection of our plans to regulate rents and introduce a temporary freeze shows he does not care about stopping the suffering cause by this policy.
"Slowing the rate at which rents continue to become more unaffordable is not good enough. We need a rent freeze and strong regulations on rent rates in the future to stop this price gouging while we build the tens of thousands of public housing units needed to end the crisis."
(JG/CM)
It comes as a further 19 Rent Pressure Zones have been added across 11 counties. Deputy Buckley welcomed the news that annual rent increases will be limited in Midleton and Fermoy, but said many young people and families across east Cork will continue to struggle.
Deputy Buckley said: "I have been calling for the inclusion of East Cork's larger towns to be included in the RPZ's since early on in the scheme. Even before the scheme was introduced, towns like Midleton and Fermoy had seen large increases in rents which had left many struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their head. One family that contacted me in early 2018 had been given a 78% increase in just one year.
"I want to pay tribute also to my colleague Sinn Féin Councillor Danielle Twomey who led the charge at council level to demand this change for our area.
"The inclusion of Midleton and Fermoy as RPZ's will help to stop these exorbitant and unreasonable increases but, in reality, it is a sign that things have already gone way too far. The average rent of properties for Fermoy and Midleton on Daft right now is over €1200 a month.
"The Minister said in his announcement that rents are currently unsustainable and that he anticipated the need to add these areas. If that's the case, he has failed utterly in his duty. The requirement for regulating rent should not be that it has already become unsustainable. Why did he not listen to either myself or Deputy Eoin Ó Broin years ago on this issue? His rejection of our plans to regulate rents and introduce a temporary freeze shows he does not care about stopping the suffering cause by this policy.
"Slowing the rate at which rents continue to become more unaffordable is not good enough. We need a rent freeze and strong regulations on rent rates in the future to stop this price gouging while we build the tens of thousands of public housing units needed to end the crisis."
(JG/CM)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
13 March 2024
First And Deputy First Minister To Celebrate St Patrick's Day In US
The First and Deputy First Minister will travel to the United States this week for a series of St Patrick's Day engagements in Washington DC. The visit will focus on showcasing the local economy and develop key relationships and networks across the U.S. Ministers will attend the NI Bureau Breakfast, Ireland Funds Gala, a meeting with the U.S.
First And Deputy First Minister To Celebrate St Patrick's Day In US
The First and Deputy First Minister will travel to the United States this week for a series of St Patrick's Day engagements in Washington DC. The visit will focus on showcasing the local economy and develop key relationships and networks across the U.S. Ministers will attend the NI Bureau Breakfast, Ireland Funds Gala, a meeting with the U.S.
29 June 2016
Cabinet Agrees To Increase Rent Limits
The Cabinet has agreed to increase rent limits under the Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) schemes, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government Simon Coveney have announced.
Cabinet Agrees To Increase Rent Limits
The Cabinet has agreed to increase rent limits under the Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) schemes, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government Simon Coveney have announced.
03 December 2015
Govt Passes Rent Reform Bill
Ireland's Residential Tenancies Bill has passed all stages of the Dáil and Seanad, it has been announced. The Bill is now expected to be signed into law by the president as soon as possible. The Bill will bring a number of major reforms to the private rental sector in Ireland, providing rent certainty and safeguards for both tenants and landlords.
Govt Passes Rent Reform Bill
Ireland's Residential Tenancies Bill has passed all stages of the Dáil and Seanad, it has been announced. The Bill is now expected to be signed into law by the president as soon as possible. The Bill will bring a number of major reforms to the private rental sector in Ireland, providing rent certainty and safeguards for both tenants and landlords.
18 November 2015
Govt's Housing Record A 'Spectacular Failure' - SF
The government's record on housing has been described as a "spectacular failure", dependent on the private market to provide a solution that "will never come". Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis, made the comments during a Private Members debate in the Dáil.
Govt's Housing Record A 'Spectacular Failure' - SF
The government's record on housing has been described as a "spectacular failure", dependent on the private market to provide a solution that "will never come". Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis, made the comments during a Private Members debate in the Dáil.
02 July 2019
19 New Rent Pressure Zones Announced
A further 19 new Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) across 11 counties have been announced by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy.
19 New Rent Pressure Zones Announced
A further 19 new Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) across 11 counties have been announced by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Continuing cloudy through the evening with further outbreaks of rain, the rain turning lighter and patchier from the south as the night progresses. Winds remain light. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
