Minister denies ‘vested interests’ controlling rental market

Minister for Environment Alan Kelly has denied “vested interests” are causing the rental crisis.

He also rejected Sinn Féin claims that such interests were holding up action to deal with the pressure on rents following allegations were made that foreign cartels were now controlling the Irish rental market.

“There is no issue of vested interests in any way, shape or form,” he told Sinn Féin environment spokesman Brian Stanley.“I wouldn’t tolerate that one bit. I’m not under the control of any form of vested interest. We do have a small percentage of landlords who are inclined to act in an unscrupulous way. That’s unacceptable.”

But, he said, “we do also need landlords who are going to supply stock because we need a mixture between social and private housing”.

The Minister played down the row between himself and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan over the introduction of rent controls which Mr Kelly favoured.

He said, however, that “the key to addressing the upward pressure on rent is to increase the supply of public and private housing”.

Mr Kelly said he was continuing to work on proposals to address the issues of rising rent. The level of increases in rent, particularly in the greater Dublin area and to a lesser extent in Galway and Cork was a serious challenge, he added.

“Ultimately any decision in relation to this area is a matter for Government. It is my intention to bring proposals to Government in the very near future in relation to this.”

Mr Stanley said it looked like there was some kind of block, some kind of hold-up being erected by vested interests.

“There are widespread reports of you and your fine Gael colleague having a head-to-head and talk of Kalashnikovs. What are you doing to remove roadblocks if they are being erected by your Fine Gael colleagues?”

Mr Kelly said the issue was to ensure more supply and measures in the coming years while that supply is being provided to ensure there would not be unjust rent hikes.

He said the Private Rental Tenancy Board was doing a lot of work in this area.