Rental Sector: Motion
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-27
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Joanne Collins (SF), Agricultural Panel

I move:
That Seanad Éireann:
notes with extreme concern that:
- 7,062 eviction notices were issued to tenants from January to March this year, up 51 per cent on the same period in 2025;
- new private rents have hit their highest level in 25 years with the rate of rent inflation at the highest since records began;
further notes that:
- for three consecutive quarters, the number of eviction notices has increased dramatically, 38 per cent in Q3 2025 and 41 per cent in Q4 2025;
- statewide, market rents have jumped 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year to €2,176 a month for a two-bed apartment, costing €26,000 a year;
- in Dublin, new rents are up 7 per cent, with a two-bed apartment now costing €2,536 a month and €30,000 a year in rent;
- in Galway City, rents have increased by a staggering 18 per cent with a two-bed apartment costing €2,290 per month and more than €27,000 a year in rent;
- in Cork City, rents have increased by 13 per cent, in Limerick City they are up by 9.7 per cent, and in Waterford City they are up by 7.6 per cent;
- this dramatic surge in market rents is a direct consequence of the Government’s decision to allow landlords to reset rents between tenancies;
- these trends are the direct result of Government policy and will lead to increased displacement of tenants, increased rents and increased homelessness;
- the Government continues to miss its social and affordable housing targets, targets that were too low to begin with, and too few private for-purchase homes are being built or coming to the market;
resolves that:
- Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s housing policy continues to make the housing crisis worse and, in particular, is failing renters;
calls on Government to:
- introduce an emergency ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions;
- cut private rents by putting a full month’s rent back into every private renter’s pocket;
- oppose rent increases for council tenants, those in receipt of Housing Assistance Payments, Rental Accommodation Scheme payments and cost rental tenants; and
- introduce a radical reset of housing policy as set out by the Housing Commission and to increase and accelerate the delivery of social, affordable and private for-purchase homes.
I wish to share time with Senator Andrews.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-27