We have spoken many times in the House about the need for the Government to take a co-ordinated approach to the crisis in the rental sector. We have called on the Minister to tackle the problem of rising rents, in particular. While the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection has promised increased spending on social housing, it takes time to come through the system. Last year rents in Galway rose every quarter, amounting to a 7% increase over the year. The result is that the monthly rental cost of a three-bedroom house in the city is in the region of €853. In addition to rising rents, particularly in east Galway, there is the problem of the lack of suitable rental accommodation for families. There are rooms or a small flat here and there to rent but increasingly fewer suitable family homes. A few days ago I met a young mother in Athenry who burst into tears at her conundrum which is that she and her family have been given notice and after trying many estate agents, they could not find suitable accommodation. These are people who are willing to pay good money for accommodation. As the family have a little dog, she is worried they might have a difficulty in finding accommodation. This may appear to be a small problem from a distance but upfront it is a real stress in people's lives. The lady, if lucky to find accommodation, will certainly face a rent increase. She would not mind that if only she could get accommodation.

Galway County Council estimated in 2014 that there were 50 or so unfinished estates located in various towns throughout the county. Happily, work has commenced on finishing some of the partially completed properties. The owners of these estates are either the banks or, more commonly, NAMA. The banks and NAMA are seeking to sell the properties-----

The issue might be suitable for debate as a Commencement matter.

It is understandable they want to sell them as soon as they are fit for habitation as they want to recoup the losses but I call on the Minister, and ask the Leader for a response to explore the possibility of making these unoccupied houses, when finished and fit for occupation, available as temporary rental accommodation. Ultimately they will be sold, but in the short term we must seek to find ways to alleviate the crisis in the rental market. That is the very least we should expect from a Government taking a co-ordinated approach to the problem.