Sinn Féin has consistently and repeatedly called on the Government to tackle the extortionate rents that are crippling workers, families and students. We told the Government the way to do this was by cutting rents through a refundable tax credit equivalent to one month's rent and, crucially, by banning rent increases for three years. We were very clear. Both measures must go together in order to give hard-pressed renters the relief they so desperately need. The tax credit for one month's rent would put a meaningful amount of money back in renters' pockets and a ban would provide renters with the certainty that they would not be hammered by further rent hikes. To work, the two measures must go hand in hand. On countless occasions, I have asked the Taoiseach directly to introduce these measures with urgency. Every time, his answer has been "No". Make no mistake: the Government's refusal to act caused already unaffordable rents to spiral further out of control.

After leaving renters high and dry for years, yesterday the Government showed up with a €500 annual tax credit. That is it. The Government completely ignored the other part of the solution, namely, a ban on rent increases. A €500 tax credit is better than nothing. I have no doubt that those tenants who can avail of it will take what they can get as they struggle to pay their rent. Let us be very clear, however. This will not make a dent for people paying average rents of more than €2,000 per month, or €24,000 a year, in Dublin or those paying nearly €1,500 a month, or €18,000 per annum, across the State. Crucially, the tax credit is non-refundable, meaning that those without a taxable income are left out. Who are they? The Government has left out students and low-income workers. Incredibly, it has done all of this without introducing a ban on rent increases. As a result, renters have no certainty and no real protection. In the absence of a ban on rent increases, the €500 credit will be wiped out by further hikes. This is true even in rent pressure zones. There is a real risk that without a ban on rent increases, the tax credit will in fact fuel a further rent hike. That is what the Taoiseach said when I raised this matter with him in April. He said there was no guarantee that a credit would result in a reduction in rents. He said it would be inflationary. He said it would add to rent prices. What has changed? The truth is that despite the Government's posturing, it has left the door wide open for more rent hikes, more exploitation and more hardship.

Ní théann beart cíosa an Taoisigh fada go leor. Theip air an chinnteacht atá ag teastáil ag tionóntaí a thabhairt trí chosc a chur ar ardú cíosa. Ní dhéanfaidh a chreidmheas €500 aon rud mar beidh sé caite ar thuilleadh méaduithe. The Taoiseach has messed this up. The renters of Ireland deserve much better than this half-baked measure. I want him to correct it. My question is very simple. Will the Government give renters a real break by putting a month's rent back into their pockets through a refundable tax credit? Will it give renters the certainty and protection they deserve and need by banning rent increases for three years?

Since the Government came into office just over two years ago, we have demonstrated our absolute commitment to do whatever is necessary to protect Ireland's society and economy. That was clear during the pandemic, when we put in place unprecedented supports for people and for employers to keep jobs intact. That is what happened yesterday with the presentations by the Ministers, Deputies Michael McGrath and Donohoe.

The budget needs to be looked at in its entirety. Due to the extraordinary efforts of the Irish people and the careful stewardship of the Government, the economy recovered very strongly and gave us good capacity to navigate the very difficult and expensive winter ahead. It is a pity the Deputy cannot acknowledge those basic facts. Every month, she is in here looking for packages. We resisted the pressure from Sinn Féin during the summer and so forth. As a result - people can see this - we are using resources and the capacity that we have derived from bringing the economy back to help the most vulnerable in our society.

This morning, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council described budget 2023 as sensible. It said that the Government had managed to direct resources to those who needed them most and that more money was being targeted towards those people. In other words, it is a progressive budget and a fair budget. That view is supported by the data and careful analysis using the simulating welfare and income tax changes, SWITCH, model of the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, for example. That analysis found the budget to be "strongly progressive". The winter cost-of-living measures alone will boost the net disposable income of the lowest income households by 5% compared with 0.7% for the highest income households. The core budget 2023 package will boost the net disposable income of the lowest income households by 5.8% compared with 2.3% for the highest income households. I say that to dispel the propaganda that Sinn Féin has been articulating since the budget was published yesterday.

The rent tax credit the Government has introduced is €1,000. It is €500 for 2022 - where people have paid their rent, they will be able to claim a €500 tax credit on that for this year - and it will be €500 for next year, 2023, and on an ongoing basis. The Sinn Féin alternative budget suggests an amount of €1,500. However, based on 400,000 renters, that proposal would have an estimated cost of €600 million. There is a massive hole in Sinn Féin's proposed provision. There is a €300 million black hole in its housing plan. The figures do not add up.

The Deputy mentioned students, for example. Students will have €1,000 knocked off their fees in this academic year. Those who qualify for Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grants will have a double payment before the end of the year. There has been very strong support for students to address costs that they would otherwise incur, which the Deputy has completely ignored.

For many renters, the income tax reductions will be a very significant additional support. The Deputy cannot just take one item out of the budget and ignore the impact of all the rest on individuals, be they renters, homeowners, those on social welfare or pensioners. We have expanded the supports for pensioners and so forth using a range of measures. Pensioners were completely ignored in Sinn Féin's alternative budget. It favours giving pensioners less for some reason. In all its budget proposals, it favours giving pensioners less than others.

Time is up.

The other key point on rent is that Sinn Féin's proposals would reduce the number of units available for let and the number of houses that would be available to rent every month.

The Government's record in office is that a housing crisis has morphed into a housing disaster.

As a matter of fact, and for the record, since the Government took office, annual rents have increased by €3,600 in Dublin and €2,800 across the State. That is the Government's record. The facts speak for themselves.

I am raising the issue of renters, specifically those who are under pressure and those who are looking for the relief that we have been seeking for years, with the Taoiseach as he spreads the largesse. I have put this case to the Taoiseach for years. The Government showed up yesterday with something that was inadequate and flawed, and I want the Taoiseach to correct it. There are three design errors. First, €500 is not enough, not when people are facing the type of rents they are paying. Second, the tax credit is not refundable. This means that means students and low-income workers are excluded. They do not even get the €500. Third, and crucially-----

The time is up.

-----for this to work, and for renters to have relief, there must be a ban on rent increases for three years.

Deputy McDonald's time is up.

I invite the Taoiseach to correct the error in the proposals made yesterday.

Hear, hear.

Sinn Féin's proposals will drive more houses out of the rental market.

It is happening under the Government.

It is a fundamental flaw in Sinn Féin's entire approach.

The Government's policies are not working.

Deputy Ó Broin should not interrupt.

Sinn Féin ignores the fact that every year fewer people are renting out houses. A ban would have a detrimental effect, in particular over three years. Sinn Féin needs to get real in terms of people leaving the market.

We are very real.

Why are people giving up? Why do they not want to let out houses anymore?

It is because of the Government's policies - those of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

No, it is not. It is because of the endless vilification that people like Deputy Ó Broin and others pile upon people on an ongoing basis.

I have never vilified anyone.

I will suspend the House if this continues. Deputy Ó Broin persistently interrupted the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government earlier when he was speaking. The Deputy should please desist.

There is a 2% limit on rents in rent pressure zones. That is the reality. We have brought in a rent credit. We have allocated €400 million. Sinn Féin would allocate €300 million in respect of a credit of €1,500. The figures do not add up. We have provided €400 million for credits amounting to €1,000 - €500 this year and €500 next year. Sinn Féin only allocated €300 million.

The time is up.

Deputy Ó Broin's figures do not add up.

The Taoiseach did not answer the questions.