Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has urged other parties to support a Sinn Féin Bill, due to be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday, that will reduce and freeze rents for workers and families.

The Sinn Féin TD said that the Bill, if enacted, would freeze all rents on existing and new tenancies for a period of three years and that the legislation also calls on the Minister for Finance to introduce a refundable tax credit of up to €1,500 for renters; equivalent to putting one month’s rent back into people’s pockets.  

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Rents in this State are out of control and are continuing to rise. The average rent in South County Dublin is now €2,224, the highest in any area of the State. This is on top of the ever growing cost of living, cost of insurance, and cost of childcare.

“It is time to freeze rents and put money back into the pockets of workers and families.

“Sinn Féin’s Rent Freeze (Fair Rent) Bill 2019 will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday and I am urging all TD’s to back this Bill.

“Sinn Féin have been tabling proposals to deal with spiralling rents since 2016 but unfortunately Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have continuously blocked them. 

“We introduced the Rent Certainty Bill in June 2016 and if this had been enacted then, new rents today would be €5,000 less expensive per year on average throughout the State and €7,500 less in Dublin.

“Now is the time for the Dáil to act and to put a stop to out of control rents.

“This Sinn Féin Bill, if passed, would ensure that renters would be protected from further rent hikes and it would put up to €1,500 per year back into the pockets of workers and families.

“Renters deserve better and all TD’s have a chance next Tuesday to give them a much-needed break.”

ENDS