Labour Party T.D. for Dublin North West, John Lyons, has said the increased limits on Rent Supplement payments will help families and individuals who are having difficulty in accessing affordable rental accommodation in Dublin.

Mr Lyons said: "According to the property website Daft.ie, rents in Dublin have increased as there are now fewer properties to rent in the capital than at any point since 2007. This is a huge issue in my constituency as more and more properties are becoming unaffordable.

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"It is also putting huge pressure on people on Rent Supplement, where in many cases when their leases come up for renew, and they find their rent has been increased so much that they are forced to move. This can be highly disruptive, especially for families who have settled in an area with their children in local schools.

"Along with my Labour Party colleagues, I have raised this issue before with Minister Burton to highlight the changes in the rental market, particularly in Dublin. Thankfully, Minister Burton has now set out to increase rent limits in Dublin where rents have risen and to reduce them in rural areas, where rents are falling.

"The new rent limits will come into effect from June 17th and should cost about €7 million this year. This will make more properties affordable for Rent Supplement recipients, allowing them to live close to their communities."

(CD/IT)