Donna McGettigan: Government Housing Record Is a Disgrace
Donna McGettigan challenges the government on housing policy, highlighting a sharp rise in evictions and rents in Clare and a national homelessness crisis. She accuses ministers of prioritising institutional investors over ordinary renters and demands bans on rent increases and no-fault evictions.
Rising evictions in Clare
Donna McGettigan cites official RTB figures showing 125 notices of termination in Clare in quarter 1 of 26, compared to 79 in the same period last year. She frames these numbers as lives disrupted: families living in fear, retired people couch surfing, and a young couple living in their car while expecting a baby.
Spiking rents and household pressures
McGettigan highlights that the average rent in Clare rose to £1,249 per month, up from £1,089 last year, a 14% increase on top of higher energy and childcare costs. She underlines how working couples and vulnerable households are being pushed into precarious situations by soaring rents.
Policy failure and demands
Addressing the minister directly, she accuses the government of siding with institutional investors and “vulture funds,” pursuing policies that drive up rents and facilitate evictions. McGettigan calls for an immediate ban on rent increases and no-fault evictions, closing loopholes on excessive service charges, and protecting tenants on HAP, RAS and cost rental schemes.
A growing national emergency
McGettigan condemns the broader human cost, noting there are over 5,570 children homeless and warning that government inaction is worsening the crisis. She urges a government that stands with renters, families and students rather than corporate landlords.
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I want to thank my colleague Eoin O'Brien for this. Minister, this government's housing record is not just a failure, it is a disgrace. In Clare alone there were 125 notices of termination received by the RTB in quarter 1 of 26, compared to 79 in the same period last year. That is not just a statistic, that is 125 people and families having their lives turned upside down, families living in fear, stress and uncertainty about where they will sleep next week or next month. At the very same time the average rent in Clare has now risen to £1,249 per month, that's up from £1,089 this time last year. That's a staggering 14% increase on top of soaring energy bills, childcare costs and rising cost of living. And many renters are paying far more than the average. In our constituency office we are meeting young couples who are both working full time but are forced to move back in with their parents because they simply cannot afford these sky high rents. Retired people couch surfing. We are even dealing with a young couple living in their car expecting a baby any day now. This is the brutal reality of this government's housing policy. And yet instead of standing up for ordinary workers, families, renters and students, this government continues to side with institutional investors and big corporate landlords. You are willingly pursuing policies that drive up rents and facilitate evictions. Throwing renters to the wolves while protecting the profits of vulture funds. You should be standing up for these renters, banning rent increases and banning no fault evictions. Closing loopholes that allow excessive service charges to rise out of control and out of affordability. You need to oppose rent increases for council tenants, those in receipt of HAP and RAS and for cost rental tenants. People cannot take any more. They need a government that is on their sides. And people have become numb to the fact that we have over 5,570 children homeless. How can you stand over that? How can you say you are doing everything when the numbers of those on the homeless list are just going up and up? The government has failed renters and communities like Clare are paying the price.
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