Carol Nolan: Warns of Rental Crisis and Demands Urgent Action
Carol Nolan spoke on 19 October 2021 about the housing crisis and rising rents, calling them the defining issue for a generation and urging urgent government action. She said current rent levels are unsustainable for most working families, including HAP recipients, and highlighted sharp local increases.
Rental crisis and local figures
Nolan pointed to steep year-on-year rent rises, noting her own county of Offaly recorded some of the biggest increases. She said rents in towns such as Tullamore and Edinderry are topping €1,000 a month and that Leish experienced almost 10% year-on-year growth, leaving many trapped in the rental sector.
Forestry crisis and housebuilding
She argued that a forestry crisis and the rising cost of timber are preventing young couples from building homes, which forces them to remain renters. Nolan presented this as a structural barrier contributing to the wider housing shortage.
Vulture funds and repossessions
Nolan criticised the lack of regulation of vulture funds, saying they can act without restraint and that repossessions are pushing people into the rental market. She called for regulatory measures to protect households from displacement.
Appeal for government action
She urged the government to be proactive and compassionate, demanding urgent action on rent sustainability, vulture fund regulation and resolving the forestry issues that hinder housebuilding. Nolan said she witnesses the suffering of her constituents in Leish Offaly and insisted the situation must be addressed immediately.
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Goeibhagat, Arra, Tóthas Arraim an Deis a Ail Cunlórtse ar an Rhúan Fyrháfghtuach seo noct, agus bewaithloan bwikas a gafalda oan o brin a coir an Rhúan seo Ósar Góra noct. The defining issue for an entire generation is housing and increasing rents. And it's a more defining issue and a more real issue than all of the talk spouted about climate policy, because it affects so many people, housing and rents. Indeed, we are all aware that the current rates of rent are unsustainable for most working families, including those who rely on HAP and other payments. Indeed, a recent analysis of trends in the Irish residential sales market showed that the biggest year-on-year increases in this state was actually in my own county of Offaly. And I needn't have been told that by that survey, because I actually didn't know that from the volume of calls that I'm receiving into my offices all of the time. You know, we have a situation also in Leish where the year-on-year increases almost 10%, I believe. So we do need to tackle this issue. But I do want to point out that many people are trapped in the rental sector because of, let's say, the lack of action in terms of our forestry crisis. Young couples cannot build their homes because of the crisis and the cost of timber, and that's forcing them to remain in the rental sector. We do have that situation. We also have a situation where vulture funds are not regulated and can do as they please with people. And in terms of repossessions of homes, that's also forcing droves of people into the rental market. I do think that government does need to be proactive. Government does need to be more compassionate. And government does need to take action in relation to these issues of regulation of vulture funds and also sorting out the mess in our forestry crisis. I'm aware in two of my towns in the constituency, Tullamore and Edinderry, that renters are paying well over €1,000 a month. That's not sustainable. It's not right. It was an issue before the pandemic, and it's still an issue. And it's now become a real crisis. And I'm asking this government to take urgent action because I see the suffering and hardship of my own constituents in Leish Offaly. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
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