As it stands, the legislation putting rent pressure zones in place will expire at the end of the year. Although the zones have not by any means brought rent affordability to where it should be, they have, at least, had an impact in keeping rents in the areas worst hit by rental increases closer to being under control. However, there has been no definitive indication by the Government as to whether it intends to renew the rent pressure zone legislation at the end of the year or under what set of circumstances it would so do. Many people would face enormous rent hikes if the zones lapsed and they are living with that uncertainty. I would be grateful if the Tánaiste would clarify the intentions of the Government in this area.

The Government today decided to extend rent pressure zones until the end of 2021 and to change how the qualification criteria for rent pressure zones are calculated, essentially to separate Dublin from the rest of the country because rents are much higher in Dublin and, therefore, the qualification criteria of having to be above the national average needs to change for outside of Dublin. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will outline the changes agreed today at Cabinet in some detail in the coming days.