An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-24
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Laura Harmon (LAB), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I thank and acknowledge the ambassadors in the Gallery here today. I extend my solidarity to the people of Ukraine for all they have endured because of this invasion and aggression from Russia. The Irish people stand with the people of Ukraine and, on behalf of the Irish Labour Party, I say we stand with them as well.
I raise the issue of housing today and in particular, the issue of renters and supports for renters. We saw a new daft.ie report this morning, which shows that rents have increased by 4.4 % over the past year. There has been a 34% increase in rents compared to pre-pandemic levels. That is coupled with the Threshold report from last week, which showed that 10% of renters in the Republic of Ireland feel they are trapped in the rental sector and are not there by choice. Their aspiration is to have a home of their own. Unfortunately, the average house price is now over eight times an individual's annual salary. It is hard for people to save when they are renting. I ask we have a full discussion and debate on supports for renters with the Minister for housing.
Over the weekend, we saw a front page story in the Irish Examiner about the new student accommodation strategy, which is yet to be published. However, we are hearing soundings there may be a provision in that for college course hours to be curtailed or academic co-ordinators will be asked to change timetables to fit around the housing issue. My understanding from speaking with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, is that might not be part of the final strategy now. We need clarity on that; clarity for students and clarity for families and those working in our colleges as to what the story is and a timeline for the publication of the student accommodation strategy. It would be fitting for this House to have a debate on that strategy as well. It will be long awaited, no matter when it is published.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:41+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-24