Tánaiste refuses meaningful renter protections amid cost-of-living crisis
Tánaiste refuses meaningful renter protections amid cost-of-living crisis - The Labour Party
- Tánaiste would not commit to introducing meaningful protections or doubling renters’ tax credit
Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Conor Sheehan TD has called on Government to urgently introduce emergency protections for renters, including a freeze on rent increases, a moratorium on evictions, and a doubling of the renters’ tax credit, speaking at Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today.
Deputy Sheehan said that as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, renters are bearing the brunt of rising costs, with soaring rents, increasing evictions, and no meaningful intervention from Government.
Deputy Sheehan said:
“Families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads as rents spiral, eviction notices mount, and the cost of living continues to rise. Renters are not just part of this crisis, they are at its centre. Many are now spending half their income on rent, and 41% are at risk of poverty. This is deeply damaging and entirely avoidable.
“This Government has presided over a housing system where eviction has become normalised. We are now seeing a 41% increase in evictions in the last quarter of 2025 alone, the highest rate recorded in modern times. Behind these figures are real people: families in Limerick, renters in Ballybane, and vulnerable older people in places like Enniscrone, facing the loss of their homes with nowhere else to go.
“At the same time, house prices have risen again for the thirteenth consecutive year, pushing home ownership further out of reach. This Government’s approach, allowing rents to reset to market levels between tenancies and delaying meaningful regulation of short-term lets, has driven up costs and reduced supply for long-term renters. The result is a system that prioritises returns for investors over security for tenants.
“The Tánaiste’s response in the Dáil today was deeply disappointing. He failed to outline any new cost-of-living supports for renters and did not engage with the scale of the crisis facing ordinary people. There was no commitment to freezing rents, no plan to halt evictions, and no willingness to strengthen existing supports such as the renters’ tax credit.
“We know that alternatives exist. In Spain, the Government has introduced measures to extend rental tenancies and freeze rents in response to rising costs. Here in Ireland, this Government continues to allow a rolling wave of evictions while rents climb ever higher. This is a policy choice.
“Labour is calling for immediate action: a temporary freeze on rent increases, a moratorium on evictions, and a doubling of the renters’ tax credit to provide real financial relief. These are practical, targeted measures that would make a tangible difference to people’s lives. Renters deserve security, stability, and fairness. The Government must act now.”