The programme for Government refers to putting in place measures that would allow tenants to avoid future rental increase shocks, yet on Monday we learned that, according to daft.ie, there have been year-on-year rent increases of 11% nationally. There has been an increase of 14% in my home city, Cork. For tenants who have suffered rent increases of 14% and more over the past year, the rent pressure zones and the 4% rent cap are a cruel hoax. Where is the rent control? In the United States, housing campaigners have a slogan. They say they are actively involved in campaigning because "the rent is too damned high". It is too damned high in this country for hundreds of thousands, including young people who are locked out of the housing market. Given the failure of the Government's rent control policies to date, is the Taoiseach now prepared to implement real rent control measures, which in the current circumstances means measures that cut the price of rent?

I thank the Deputy for the question. Rents are too high in this country, and that is why we are working to implement the rent pressure zone model. The zones have been introduced and are working but they need to be strengthened. A rent Bill will be published very shortly that will do just that.

The rent pressure zones are not working.

It will strengthen the enforcement of rent pressure zones. We have provided additional money in the budget for next year for the RTB to make sure the zones are being adhered to. It will also provide for rent transparency and longer notice periods for tenants when a notice of termination is served. The strengthening measures are to be introduced in the rent Bill and they will work to strengthen further the rent pressure zones because we recognise that rents are unacceptably high.