Written Answers Nos. 235-252
235. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has conducted an independent review as to whether the draft planning and development Bill 2022 complies with all of Ireland’s commitments under the Aarhus Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6715/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key aim of the review and consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was to put plan-making at the centre of the planning system by bringing increased clarity and streamlining to the legislation and improving the functioning of the planning system for both practitioners and the general public. This review and the draft Bill it has produced represents the most comprehensive review of planning since the current Act was came into place more than two decades ago.
The review was led by the Attorney General ard a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assisted him in this work. It was underpinned by a number of guiding principles, including ensuring that the important, integral role of public participation enjoyed in the planning system was fully protected, as reflected in European Union law and international instruments including the Aarhus Convention. All provisions of the draft Bill have been reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General to ensure full alignment with these provisions.
Ireland has one of the most open planning systems in the world in terms of public participation rights, encompassing full unrestricted public participation at planning application stage along with first and third party right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála, and the subsequent possibility of judicial review challenge (subject to certain conditions) i.e. potentially providing the possibility of participating in the planning system up to 3 times in respect of a proposed development. These rights are enjoyed only in two other European Union member states (Denmark and Sweden) and provide multiple opportunities for public participation.
Another notable feature is the open nature of the system in terms of access to information with files in both local authorities and An Bord Pleanála available for public inspection.
The draft Bill proposes to introduce a cost protection scheme for judicial review cases whereby there will be no order for costs unless the Court considers that the proceedings are an abuse of process, further reducing a potential cost barrier in access to justice. It also enhances public participation in plan-making and decision-making processes and also brings increased clarity on the integration of the scope and role of environmental assessments into both these areas.
The draft Planning and Development Bill 2022 was agreed by Government on the 13 December 2022 and is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Once concluded, the Bill will proceed before the Houses of the Oireachtas where it is hoped it will be enacted before Summer 2023.
236. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the progress of an application submitted by Offaly County Council for the provision of a new fire station and ancillary facilities at Clara, County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6718/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired, etc.?); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further twelve new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of thirty-five new fire engines.
Any proposal received by the Department requesting further support from the Fire services capital programme is considered with regard to national priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide.
Project consideration stages in my Department include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
Offaly County Council is currently liaising closely with my Department on extension and upgrade works to the Tullamore Breathing Apparatus Training Centre at the Tullamore Central Fire station.
Offaly County Council has previously indicated that the replacement of Clara Fire Station is a priority going forward. While this project is not currently included in my Department's construction programme, all projects in the capital programme will be reassessed on an annual basis to maximise available capital programme funding and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects.
237. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if resources will be provided to An Bord Pleanála to allow it to answer communications from the public and public representatives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6795/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Bord Pleanála ('the Board') is independent in the performance of its functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for An Bord Pleanála in this regard is Oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie.
An Bord Pleanála (the Board) has informed my Department that the Board does operate and manage the Board's Oireachtas email account and that they respond to all queries received in this account in a timely fashion. The Board has advised that any follow-up queries regarding email correspondence to the Oireachtas email address should be communicated to the Board who will review and deal with the query as appropriate.
Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as Minister I am specifically precluded from exercising power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board) is or may be concerned.
238. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding applications that are currently being considered by his Department for the Traveller AHB Cena; the funding that has been provided by Cena in 2022; the funding that will be provided in 2023; and if his Department is encouraging local authorities and approved housing bodies to engage with and enter service level agreements with Cena to assist in the development of much needed Traveller specific accommodation. [6862/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is engaging with the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector, including Cena, on its capacity to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation as part of the ongoing work of the Programme Board, established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Expert Group Review report.
My Department supported Cena in 2022 in relation to the following:
- funding for a service level agreement with Cena to employ a part-time Tenant Liaison Officer to guide and assist Traveller families in Carlow in taking up new tenancies
- funding to Offaly County Council for a service level agreement with Cena for tenancy sustainment
- funding to Clare County Council for a feasibility study concerning a halting site undertaken by Cena
In addition, funding was provided by The Housing Agency for over 3 years to support the work of Cena to build its capacity as a self-sustaining standalone AHB.
The AHB Cena has an active funding application under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) which is being considered by my Department.
My Department continues its collaborative work with local authorities and AHBs to support the consistent delivery of accommodation for Travellers, however it is a matter for each local authority to decide if they wish to engage the services of Cena.
The capacity of AHBs, including Cena, to deliver Traveller-specific accommodation remains part of the ongoing work of the Programme Board and is under ongoing consideration.
239. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total capital expenditure on housing programmes (details supplied) for 2022; the total volume of AHB borrowing for the delivery of social and affordable homes; and the total capital expenditure by the LDA on the delivery of social and affordable homes. [6866/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2022 provided for record capital investment in Housing with total funding of over €4 billion available through exchequer resources, Land Development Agency (LDA) investment and Housing Finance Agency (HFA) lending.
In respect of capital expenditure on Housing in 2022, my Department will shortly submit its Capital Expenditure Management Report End Quarter 4 2022 to Government.
The analysis and breakdown of 2022 capital expenditure to support local authority and Approved Housing Body social and affordable housing delivery, across the range of funding streams, is currently being finalised.
240. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the status of R2-zoned residential lands; if they will be liable for the residential zoned land tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6989/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), a key commitment under Housing for All, is a new tax which was established in Finance Act 2021. It is designed to activate suitably zoned and serviced land for housing and is a key pillar of the Government’s response to address the urgent need to increase housing supply in suitable locations. The Department of Finance leads on its implementation with the involvement of my Department, the Revenue Commissioners and the 31 local authorities. In this regard, my Department published section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities on the Residential Zoned Land Tax on 29 June 2022, which provided guidance on identifying the land which is in scope for the tax. A copy of the Guidelines can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbc41-residential-zoned-land-tax-guidelines-for-planning-authorities/
The implementation of RZLT consists of two phases as set out below.
Phase 1: the preparation and publication of maps by the 31 local authorities identifying land within the scope of the measure. All 31 local authorities published draft maps on 1 November 2022. This is being followed by a period of consultation during which landowners can make submissions to the relevant local authority. The initial mapping process will conclude with the preparation and publication of final maps on 1 December 2023. From 2025 onwards, local authorities will update the maps on an annual basis.
Phase 2: the administration of the tax by the Revenue Commissioners. This will commence in 2024, with the initial liability date for the tax arising on 1 February 2024 and the first pay and file date following on 23 May 2024.
Further details with regard to the RZLT, including a full description of the submission process and milestones, can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbad0-residential-zoned-land-tax/
241. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an internal inspection of a property is required prior to it being placed on the derelict sites register and, if not, whether he will consider implementing same. [6995/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing vacancy and dereliction, and maximising the use of the existing housing stock, is a priority objective of the Government, as evidenced in Housing for All - where one of the four pathways in the plan is specifically dedicated to this area - and also the recently announced Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant Scheme which encompasses derelict properties.
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site.
An internal inspection of a property by a local authority is not necessarily required prior to it being placed on the derelict site register. A property can be placed on the register where it is deemed by a local authority to satisfy the criteria of a derelict site under the terms of section 3 of the Act i.e. (i) it is in a dangerous or ruinous condition; (ii) it is in a neglected or unsightly condition; or (iii) there is a presence of litter, waste or debris on the site. I have no plans to amend the existing legislative provisions along the lines suggested at this point in time.
242. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has been notified of a construction start date for the Event Centre in Cork; and the date that was notified to his Department. [7015/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cork Events Centre was included as a commitment under Project Ireland 2040. This underlines the Government’s objectives for urban regeneration, enhanced amenity and heritage, associated quality of life standards, balanced regional development, and the regeneration and development of Cork City Centre.
It was agreed by Government in the context of Budget 2020 that responsibility for making the grant funding available for the project would transfer to my Department. However, responsibility for the advancement of proposals for the development of the Events Centre remains, in the first instance, a matter for Cork City Council.
A 2014 tender process by Cork City Council, the Sponsoring Authority, resulted in the selection of a consortium of the development company BAM as the preferred tenderer, with Live Nation as the preferred operator.
The Council has advised my Department that the consortium have recently confirmed to them that detailed design work on the Events Centre is well advanced and that construction work on the project will commence in 2023.
243. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will remove the planning requirements from the short-term accommodation register given that it will have a very negative consequence as many short-term lets cannot afford the cost of the planning process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7095/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 7 December 2022 the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill and the priority drafting of the Bill which provides for the establishment of a new registration system for short-term lettings to be operated by Fáilte Ireland in line with the commitment under Housing for All, the Government's housing policy and action plan. This work is being led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Updated Planning Guidelines on short-term letting which will provide clarity on the properties operating in this area which will require planning permission in both rent pressure zones and more rural areas, are currently being prepared by my Department to supplement the Registration of Short-Term Tourist Letting Bill. It is intended that the updated guidelines will be published on the enactment of the Bill. In light of the commitment in Housing for All to address this issue, it is not intended to remove the planning requirements in respect of short-term letting.
244. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied) concerning a fire station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7097/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced a new Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the:
- Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
- established Health and Safety needs;
- state of development of the project (is site acquired, etc.?); and
- value for money offered by the proposal.
This new Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further twelve new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of thirty-five new fire engines.
Any proposal received by the Department requesting further support from the Fire services capital programme is considered with regard to national priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide.
Project consideration stages in my Department include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
Kerry County Council has previously indicated that the replacement of Kenmare Fire Station is a priority going forward. While this project is not currently included in my Departments construction programme, all projects in the capital programme will be reassessed on an annual basis to maximise available capital programme funding and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects.
245. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for supporting an unprecedented 4,000 affordable purchase homes on average every year. [7106/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for a new local authority-led affordable purchase scheme, targeting average prices of €250,000. [7107/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
Housing for All sets out the range of actions necessary to increase the supply of housing to the required 33,000 homes, on average, per year over the next decade. 54,000 affordable home interventions will be delivered between now and 2030 to be facilitated by local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs), the Land Development Agency (LDA) and through a strategic partnership between the State and retail banks.
In implementing the key objectives under Housing for All, each local authority has prepared and published a Housing Delivery Action Plan in respect of local authority supported or overseen delivery from 2022 to 2026. I have set individual five-year Housing delivery targets for local authorities. 18 local authorities with a strong and identified affordable housing need were also set affordable housing delivery targets and asked to include their planned affordable housing delivery in their Housing Delivery Action Plans. These plans were published on the local authorities’ respective websites in July 2022.
2022 represented the commencement of a very ambitious programme of delivery of affordable housing. A pipeline of affordable housing delivery is being developed by local authorities, by AHBs using the Cost Rental Equity Loan and by the LDA. Local authorities have been begun collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area in the same manner as is currently done for social housing. It is intended that information on delivery across all delivery streams will be gathered by my Department and I expect that my Department will be in a position to begin reporting on affordable delivery in national quarterly delivery statistics in Q1 2023.
In addition, the First Home Scheme, which was launched in July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide. Full information on the scheme is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
247. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for a new first home shared equity scheme for private developments. [7108/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Questions No. 163 and 164 of 8 February 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
248. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for a reformed local authority home loan. [7109/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the commitment in Housing for All, the expanded Local Authority Home Loan was launched in January 2022. It is a Government backed mortgage for those who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It is available to first-time buyers and "fresh start" applicants to purchase a new or second-hand property, or to self-build.
Following a review of the Local Authority Home Loan, I recently announced further significant changes to the scheme parameters in relation to house prices and income limits, which will result in more people being eligible to apply for this State-backed mortgage. These changes will come into effect from 1 March 2023. Details in this regard can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/4b19c-more-homebuyers-now-eligible-for-local-authority-home-loan/
Further information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available on its dedicated website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/
249. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for an owner-occupier guarantee in housing developments to secure homes exclusively for first-time buyers and other owner-occupiers. [7110/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Pathway 1 of Housing for All: Supporting Homeownership and Increasing Affordability, the Government committed to introducing a form of ‘owner-occupier guarantee’, which would enable Local Authorities to specify the proportion of houses and duplexes in a development for owner-occupiers.
In support of this commitment the Government introduced a series of measures in May 2021 designed to prohibit the bulk buying of houses and duplexes. This included the Section 28 Guidelines for Planning Authorities “Regulation of Commercial Institutional Investment in Housing” which aimed to prevent multiple units being sold to a single buyer.
The Section 28 Guidelines provide an ‘owner-occupier’ guarantee by ensuring that new ‘own-door’ houses and duplex units in housing developments can no longer be bulk-purchased by institutional investors in a manner that causes the displacement of individual purchasers or social and affordable housing, including cost-rental. The Guidelines included requirements that a new form of condition be inserted in applicable new planning permissions, to the effect that:
(1) all houses would have to be made available for sale and for first occupation by separate, individual households for a period of years after completion of the home. (In the case of mixed developments, the provision only applies to the houses and duplex units and not apartments.);(2) exempts housing to be provided for social or affordable purposes from this requirement; and(3) if, after a period of two years, the local authority is satisfied that despite reasonable efforts, a market has not emerged, the condition will lapse.
On 9 June 2022, Minister O’Brien published a 12 month progress update on the Section 28 planning measures introduced in May 2021 to increase home ownership and restrict the practice of bulk purchasing by institutional investors. It demonstrated that almost 16,000 residential units had been ring-fenced for individual buyers and restricted from bulk buying or multiple sales to a single purchaser. As of December 2022, this estimate had increased further to over 23,000 residential units.
In addition, the Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Act 2021 introduced the requirement for the Housing Strategy of a local authority to take into account the existing need and the likely future need for housing, in particular houses and duplexes, for purchase by intending owner occupiers. The proportion of owner-occupiers will be calculated by each local authority using the Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) tool which projects the overall housing need and provides a breakdown by tenure type. This provision gives further legislative effect to aforementioned Guidelines and means that local authorities will be required to ensure home ownership as a tenure type is provided for and estimated in their respective Housing Strategies.
250. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for 20% of all developments to be set aside for affordable and social housing. [7111/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 new homes per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.
Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 was amended by the Affordable Housing Act 2021 with the provisions coming into operation on 3 September 2021. The effect of the provisions is to increase the Part V contribution to 20% in housing developments of 5 or more houses and to enable the use of Part V for the provision of cost rental as well as social and affordable purchase housing. At least half the Part V contribution must be for social housing provision.
Planning permissions granted before 1 August 2021 are not affected and the contribution remains at 10% for social housing purposes where planning permission is granted before August 2026 in respect of a site purchased between September 2015 and July 2021. My Department is in the process of preparing updated Part V guidelines for local authorities under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. These guidelines, which are expected to be finalised shortly, will address the amended Part V requirements.
251. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for an average of 2,000 new cost rental homes every year with rents targeted at least 25% below market level. [7112/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCost Rental was introduced through the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Under Housing for All, an average of 2,000 new Cost Rental homes are targeted annually to 2030. Cost rental is targeted to deliver at least 25% below market level and at households with incomes above the social housing limits, but who cannot afford to purchase or rent their own home on the open market. Cost Rental provides tenants with secure tenancies in sustainable, long-term homes. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. Importantly, one of the conditions of this scheme is that households must have net income (i.e. the level of income after tax) of less than €53,000. Under the Housing for All targets, the delivery of Cost Rental homes will be scaled up and implemented in areas with a high affordability constraint as soon as practicable.
The first Cost Rental homes were delivered in 2021, and 2022 saw significant delivery of further Cost Rental homes by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) via the Cost Rental Equity Loan and the first Cost Rental homes delivered via the Land Development Agency (LDA). A grant is also available to local authorities via the Affordable Housing Fund which provides up to €150,000 per cost rental home.
Delivery in 2023 will continue with a pipeline of housing delivery in place and being developed by local authorities, AHBs, and the LDA. Local authorities have begun systematically collating information on delivery of affordable homes in their area, including validated delivery from AHBs and the LDA, in the same manner as is currently done for social housing for submission to my Department. 2022 year end returns are currently being prepared by local authorities. Informed by returns of this data which is scheduled over the coming weeks, I expect that my Department will be in a position to report the confirmed 2022 social and affordable housing delivery by the end of Q1 2023, which will include Cost Rental delivery.
252. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update under Housing for All for extended rent pressure zones to 2024 and rents linked to the harmonised index of consumer prices. [7113/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Act 2021 introduced measures in July 2021 to extend the operation of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) until the end of 2024. The designation of all existing RPZs has also been extended until 31 December 2024. The Act provides that rent reviews outside of RPZs can, until 2025, occur no more frequently than bi-annually. This provides rent certainty for tenants outside of RPZs for a minimum 2 year period at a time.
The Act also introduced measures to better protect tenants with affordability by prohibiting any necessary rent increase in a RPZ from exceeding general inflation, as recorded by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP).
To address the rent affordability challenges building on foot of the unexpectedly fast rising inflation rate, as recorded by HICP (CSO data for December 2022 shows HICP inflation of 8.2% p.a.), the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2021 provides, from 11 December 2021, a cap of 2% per annum pro rata on rent increases in RPZs, where the inflation rate is higher. In effect, this will mean that rents in RPZs may only increase by a maximum of 2% per annum pro rata during times of higher inflation.
In all cases, section 19(1) of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2021 prohibits the setting of a rent that exceeds market rent.
