I wish to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government about the differential rent scheme in County Tipperary, a matter I have already discussed with him. The county council has written to over 1,000 tenants telling them that they are facing huge increases in rent of 50%, 60% and 70% and threatening to charge them the maximum rent unless they engage. Does it need a statutory instrument to do this or can it do so without notice? In letters received on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week they were told that the increases would take effect on 1 July. It is a very ham-fisted way for it to deal with the issue as it strikes fear and terror into people living in rented accommodation. In the context of the housing crisis, it is totally insensitive. Surely manners could be put on council officials who cannot do this willy-nilly.

A national review of the differential rent scheme is under way. I asked the Deputy if he could show me some written evidence of what was happening with the tenants to whom he referred in order that I could progress the issue with the local authority and see what the exact position was.