Marian Harkin
Sligo-Leitrim · Independent · Ireland
“I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter and for highlighting the significant population growth taking place in Swords. I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am interested to hear the Deputy say it is the third largest town in Ireland.”
“Upon receipt of the revised stage 2a report, Department officials carried out an initial review. In early June 2025, a further meeting was held with the wider design team, school authorities and Department officials in attendance.”
“This investment will provide capacity for almost 3,000 additional homes while improving the resilience of essential services in the area. It is a clear example of how targeted infrastructure investment can unlock housing and support sustainable growth.”
“For this reason, we plan and develop public transport in line with the greater Dublin area transport strategy 2022-2042, rather than in isolation, to maximise the use and benefits of each proposal and project.”
“I thank Senator Costello for raising this matter. The Government is committed to preserving our existing roads network. This is demonstrated through the Department of Transport's provision of regular grant funding to eligible local authorities.”
“I thank the Senator. I am of course providing the answers given to me by the Department. As we know, the new Limerick bus network will provide more frequent public transport offerings to more people across Limerick. I hear what she is saying. She is talking about now.”
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“Ireland repeatedly raised our concerns about climate, biodiversity and deforestation, as well as the need for strong protections and assurances for the incomes of Irish farmers. We have always been clear that such agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that farmers' livelihoods must not be undermined through weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries. As I said, this position is clearly outlined in the programme for Government, which we signed up to. I will again repeat that it states that Ireland will "Work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur deal." That has not changed. I am happy to say that here today.”
“Ireland has long championed free, fair and open trade. This has been central to our economic model and our farming community would absolutely support that position. Our EU membership connects us to a growing network of best-in-class free trade agreements, which support jobs, facilitate investment and uphold stringent EU standards in food safety, plant and animal health. They also advance environmental and human rights protections globally. We know that trade is essential to securing prosperity, sustaining employment and attracting investment. When new agreements are balanced and fair, it is in Ireland's interest to ratify them swiftly but, as emphasised by the Minister, Deputy Heydon, balance is always key. That remains central to the Government's approach. The European Commission presented its final package on 3 September.”
“I say again that Ireland is committed to implementing what is in the programme for Government. That is what the Minister, Deputy Heydon, said and I am happy to reiterate it as a representative of the Independent group in Government. Some Deputies have complained loudly about other Deputies not being here. That is a cheap shot and we all know it. I am here to represent those Deputies. Looking around, some of the Deputies who complained are no longer with us. As mentioned by the Minister, Deputy Heydon, the broader international trade context is also important for Ireland. Trade and our international partnerships have always been fundamental to our economic model. Within that framework, we continue to advocate for solutions that are fair, sustainable and reflective of our values. That is both for Ireland and our EU trading partners.”
“However, he goes on to say that, pending that examination and the completion of the ongoing engagement, Ireland's position on the EU Mercosur agreement remains as clearly outlined in the programme for Government, which is, I reiterate, to work "with like-minded countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur deal." I fully support this position and recognise and applaud the efforts of the Minister for agriculture and our Tánaiste in defending that position. Just yesterday, the Minister held bilateral meetings on the margins of the Council meeting with our Italian and French counterparts. If this agreement were to be adopted, it would require a qualified majority vote in the Council and a simple majority vote in the European Parliament. We can see this process is ongoing.”
“It states the Government commits to "Work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal." Those listening to the contribution of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, at the beginning of the debate will have heard him say the Departments of foreign affairs and agriculture were continuing to examine the proposals in detail and would continue to engage with the European Commission to ensure Ireland's concerns were fully taken on board.”
“These ranged from the potentially negative effects on the Irish beef trade to the destruction of part of the Amazon forest as well as, of course, crucially highlighting different production standards alongside the issue of compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. This is why my Independent colleagues and I, when we signed up to the programme for Government, insisted that the Government oppose the current deal. In this regard, I want to quote exactly what the programme for Government states.”
“I acknowledge the Deputies who tabled the motion and the genuine debate we have had here this evening. The Government recognises the real depth of concern surrounding the proposed EU Mercosur agreement. In particular, those concerns relate to Irish agriculture and our rural economy as well as the importance of ensuring sustainable adequate environmental protections. For these reasons, and in acknowledgement of the very important points that have been raised here this evening, the Government does not oppose the motion and I fully support that. Personally, I am very familiar with the various iterations of EU Mercosur agreements, having spent 15 years in the European Parliament, and I opposed the various proposals put forward over many years on a number of grounds.”
“I thank Dáil Éireann for hosting and agreeing to have these statements today in the 30th year of science week. The world needs to support science now more than ever. Once again, I thank the Deputies who specifically made that point. I really appreciate it”
“In that context, I encourage parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers and communities to get involved, take an interest and share a conversation with their young people. Then, today and tomorrow is a chance to celebrate the endeavours of yesteryear that have brought us to where we are and to consider what might lie ahead for individuals, families, communities, Ireland and the entire planet. I thank everyone today for their contributions. I listened to all of them. I have heard many comments about the need for further investment in innovation. While I do not have the exact figures in front of me, I can say there has been a very significant increase in resources for research and innovation in this budget. Yes, we have a way to go. This budget, however, has certainly taken not a small step but a very sizeable in trying to close that gap.”
“As a Minister of State, I am proud to support and advance an apprenticeship system that is inclusive, responsive and central to our future workforce. The backbone of our innovation economy is STEM. We need more STEM professionals every year to meet demand in sectors like engineering, software and advanced manufacturing. Apprenticeships and FET are critical to closing that gap. They offer alternative routes into high-value roles and help to ensure talent is not lost because not everyone has followed a rigid traditional pathway. A small bit of kindness and encouragement can make all the difference in the lives of children in building their confidence and self-esteem and in seeing themselves as capable of going after their dreams and realising their potential, whatever that might be.”
“FET is not just about that, however. It is also about green skills, advanced technologies and innovation. Apprenticeships are a cornerstone of this vision. They offer a powerful, earn-as-you-learn model, combining real world experience with qualifications that are nationally recognised. Ireland now has over 77 apprenticeship programmes, from traditional roles to cutting edge and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biopharma, robotics and data analysis. These programmes are shaping careers. They are giving learners practical skills and employers the talent they need to thrive. Apprentices are gaining confidence, skills and meaningful employment opportunities. From all the surveys we have done, they are telling us this route is working.”
“While I have mentioned some of the events in my constituency - we tend to do that here - these are just a tiny number among the vast number of events taking place across the country. I encourage everyone to see what is still happening. Nearly half of the week is left. Just go and see if you are interested. We are living in a time of huge change. There are real opportunities. For Ireland, this is not just a challenge but a chance to lead. I have heard many Deputies this evening talk about this. Further education and training are at the heart of the transformation we need to make. Through FET, we are building bridges between education and employment. It is crucial that we are creating flexible routes to allow people to learn, upskill and reskill throughout their lives. Literacy, numeracy and digital skills remain core priorities.”
“It is a fun event which combines, believe it or not, the solving of quadratic equations with the skill of juggling. It is an absolutely fascinating and fun event. It sounds complex. Those are the kinds of things that get people, especially young women, interested in STEM. I am really pleased to say that my former school, Mercy College Sligo, where I was a maths teacher for many years, is hosting that event this afternoon. This is about encouraging young women to see that science, engineering, mathematics and technology is for them. There are many other events taking place, such as those taking place in Ballyshannon Library, the historic town atlases and the other events in many schools.”
“For those who do not know what that is - I had to look it up as well - that meteor shower occurs every November but, this year in particular, because the moon is just a thin crescent and the night sky will be very dark, the meteor shower will be seen very clearly. Those interested can go there to see this. It is happening all over the country but if people want it explained, it is happening in Slish Wood on Friday night. That is not the only interesting thing that is happening, however. Another event that caught my attention is "Juggling Quadratics for Queens" in the Island Theatre in Ballinamore. As a former maths teacher, when I saw the word “quadratic”, I wondered what this was about. In fact, it is teaching. The “queens” part of the title means this event is for young women and girls. It will teach them how to juggle.”
“For many years, I have attended these events and they are fascinating. They are fun and family friendly. Titles of some of the shows include “The Electrifying Energy Show”, “The Mad Professor”, “Desert Bloom” and “Who Are You Callin’ Airhead?" If those titles do not pique people’s interest, I am not sure what will. There are a lot of interactive exhibits, such as “Science on Stilts” and “Marine Life Discovery”, as well as hands-on challenges in the ATU’s new teaching gym. That is just one day. For the rest of the week, there are a lot of other events taking place. I am just going to mention one event that is taking place on Friday night in Slish Wood. It is a guided night-time adventure with Northwest Adventure Tours looking at the Leonids meteor shower.”
“For too many people, for too long, science has been seen as out of reach and maybe something reserved for the clever ones. In truth, however, science is for everyone. Deputy Martin Daly put it in simple terms - science supports every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to the sustainable food we eat, the systems that support our societies and everything, from transport to cybersecurity. The most important thing that I can say about Science Week is that it is about connecting children and ordinary people, with no scientific background whatsoever, to the science that is all around us. We are lucky in Sligo to have a fabulous science fair at the ATU. It started last Sunday and events are taking place for the entire week. It is organised by the faculty of science at ATU Sligo.”
“I thank everyone in the House for the opportunity to have this debate and their contributions. Many of them were quite insightful and thoughtful. As a former science and maths teacher, I am pleased to see so many people across the country participating in Science Week because it is about making science fun, accessible, interesting and real. I agree with Deputies Eoin Hayes and Paul Gogarty that distrust in science is growing and we need to find ways to deal with this. Science Week is one of the ways we can help manage it. While it is just a piece of the jigsaw, it is an important one because we can assist in that work to support all the fantastic, novel and interesting events that are taking place all over the country this week.”
“UCC currently admits 50 dentistry students annually, 25 EU and 25 non-EU, and this outreach centre would increase this to 60. Furthermore, the proposal allows for additional dental hygienist and dental nursing places in UCC. While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places. There is a clear opportunity for both Departments to collaborate further to maximize investment and expand domestic training capacity to meet Ireland's dental workforce needs. Discussions are currently ongoing between the Department of Health and my Department to try to progress this proposal with a view to maximising Irish and EU places to obtain value for money for this proposal. Further engagement with UCC is ongoing to finalise funding and maximise Irish-EU places.”
“I thank the Deputy. I hear what he is saying. The document I have here tells me the Department of Health stated the Dental Council has reported a steady increase in the number of registered dentists since 2016 from 2,949 to 3,971 today. As of 2022, there were 2,420 practising dentists in Ireland, marking a 3.9% increase from the previous year. The number of registered dentists per 100,000 population has risen from 61 in 2019 to nearly 72 today. I agree with the Deputy that it is a modest increase and the need is very great but it is going in the right direction. There are currently about 100 dentistry graduates annually. On the Deputy’s specific question about funding for north Cork, the Department has received a strong proposal requesting €4.7 million to establish a dental outreach centre.”
“I am informed that the Department of Health is examining the feasibility of a new mid-level oral health professional grade. The outcomes of this work, due to be published shortly, may have further implications for the number and type of training places needed in the coming years across oral healthcare.”
“This expansion represents a landmark 33% increase in student intake and clearly demonstrates my Department’s and this Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the oral healthcare workforce and supplying the graduates needed for a modern, accessible health system. As evidence of this, I understand the RCSI programme will expand next year with a further 15 potential places by 2027. I think there is a further eight next year and seven the following year, to bring it to 35 in total thereafter. I reaffirm my Department’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any future expansion of dental education is grounded in evidence, responds to national needs and is delivered in a sustainable manner.”
“While my Department does not set quotas for student places, we work closely with the Department of Health and the HEA to explore how capacity can be sustainably expanded in key health disciplines, including dentistry. In 2023, the HEA carried out a targeted capacity expansion exercise across priority healthcare areas. One key outcome was the establishment of new a dentistry programme, to which the Deputy referred, a new bachelor of dental surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, commencing in 2025. This new programme will follow a community-based model of dental education and will provide at least 20 new dentistry places per annum for Irish and EEA students, significantly enhancing national training capacity.”
“Ensuring adequate capacity to train future dentists is part of our broader commitment to workforce planning that supports the health and well-being of our population. Until this year, approximately 60 places were available each year to Irish and EU students on dentistry courses. My Department recognises that this represents a limited training pipeline at a time when the demand for oral healthcare, both clinical and preventative, is increasing nationally. The number of places offered is a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However, I do acknowledge that due to a high level of practical work there can be material constraints on the number of students who can be accepted onto dentistry courses.”
“I thank Deputy Burke for raising this important matter again tonight. This might be the third time he has raised this issue. I can see he is determined to highlight it. The issue is important. I am taking this on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy James Lawless. The Government is firmly committed to ensuring that our healthcare system is supported by a steady and sustainable pipeline of highly skilled graduates. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Higher Education Authority and the higher education institutions, plays a central role in delivering the education and training infrastructure needed to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce, including in critical areas such as oral healthcare and dentistry.”
“A total of 78 different apprenticeships are on offer at the moment - everything from hairdressing to cybersecurity to accounting technicians to modern methods of construction to welders, plumbers, etc. I will leave it to the Minister to deal with the issues that have been raised.”
“However, it is important to note that NTF expenditure is provided for a wide range of skills development schemes, including in the further education and training sector; the higher education sector; enterprise upskilling, including for small and medium enterprise; apprenticeships; and upskilling for community and voluntary organisations. It is important to say that this funding will continue. I have heard some colleagues speak about a cut in funding to ETBs. All I can say is that budget 2026 saw an additional allocation of €79 million to apprenticeships bringing the total allocation to €411 million in 2026. That is not a cut. That is a hugely significant increase. This amount of money has doubled since 2020.”
“I acknowledge the interest in accessing funding from the fund for education and training initiatives. As it stands, the NTF forms part of my Department’s expenditure ceiling and indeed the overall Government expenditure ceiling. The funds being released in the NTF funding package are fully allocated. The amendments made in this Act are to provide that the NTF can be used to fund capital expenditure on essential projects for reskilling and upskilling of our workforce, which will meet the skills needs of our economy and progress the skills development agenda.”
“Funding for higher education was to be increased by a further €150 million by 2030 and it also included one-off current funding for the tertiary sector, including skills and apprenticeships. The budget also included a €600 million capital uplift to enable skills development, including facilities in the areas of healthcare, veterinary skills and further education skills supporting universal access to skills provision and the research sector, including an increase in PhD stipends. This is something for which I advocated in the previous Dáil on many occasions. I am also very pleased to see that we now have a veterinary course in ATU in Letterkenny. This is hugely important because it contributes to the Government's objective of balanced regional development.”
“Time and again, the issue of spending the funds that have accumulated under the NTF arose. All the attendees at those meetings wanted to see this money being used in constructive and innovative ways to support upskilling and reskilling and to provide opportunities and information for those who want to enter employment. I believe this Bill answers many of those questions and queries and ensures that the use of the fund for the purposes of the original Act remains while also providing a spend on capital expenditure. Budget 2025 delivered a total NTF funding package of €1.485 billion over a six-year period for the tertiary sector, including €885 million in funding for a core funding package and capital uplift.”
“I thank the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and his officials for bringing forward this important and innovative legislation, which I fully support. I believe it has huge potential benefits for the further and higher education sectors. I want to thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I think we all are largely agreed that this is a positive move. Yes, there are some queries and there are some nuances around the details, and it is important that we tease them out on Committee Stage and further Stages. The Minister will deal with many of those concerns but I will address a few of them myself. Before I ever became Minister of State in the Department of further and higher education, I attended many meetings of employer representative groups and education providers, generally organised by IBEC but also other meetings on a regional basis.”
“Every effort is being made to try to ensure that the courses available for apprenticeships are in locations that are as suitable as possible for them to attend.”
“I fully appreciate what the Deputy is saying. Accommodation is a significant issue for all third level students. We are talking about apprenticeships in particular. I just had a look at the apprenticeships that are available in Galway-Roscommon ETB. I see that it offers training in various locations. For example, Galway Technical Institute offers training as an accounting technician, auctioneering and commis chef are offered in Athenry, hairdressing is offered in Galway Technical Institute, and software development is offered in the Mervue training centre. The Deputy can see from that that a real effort is being made. I have just a few locations here. The Deputy will be aware of all of them in his own county.”
“I thank the Deputy. I absolutely agree. That is why an extra €79 million was acquired in this budget for apprenticeships, bringing the overall investment to nearly €411 million. That is clear evidence of the Government's determination to fund the apprentice system. It is more than just funding. It is also ensuring that more and more people see apprenticeships as a viable and exciting educational pathway. Much work is going into that. I know the Deputy is concerned about this issue of apprentices receiving training closer to their home location. I fully understand that but it is important to say that every effort is made by SOLAS to try to ensure that can happen. Where learners are travelling outside of their home region, certain allowances are available. They can decline a call to a location up to three times.”
“Craft apprentices required to travel outside their home region may qualify for an accommodation allowance. Travel and meal allowances are also available, although it is important to say that only one type of allowance is payable per training phase. In the national survey of apprenticeships which was published last month, 87% of apprentices reported that they are enjoying their apprenticeship experience and 84% have developed confidence in their ability to learn. A total of 85% are glad they chose the apprenticeship route and feel part of their organisation, and, crucially, 94% believe their apprenticeship will provide good employment opportunities. This positive experience is reflected in the relatively low non-progression rates. That is something we should look at where apprenticeships are concerned.”
“I hear the Deputy's question because this is an issue that has come to my attention, especially in more rural counties. Apprenticeships are national programmes. As much as possible, SOLAS schedules craft apprentices to an available training location near to the home of the apprentice. If a placement is not available near an apprentice's home, SOLAS will endeavour to schedule him or her to attend the nearest available location. As with every other post-secondary education route, not all programmes are available in every location. During their induction, apprentices are advised that they may be required to travel to other counties for training. Apprentices are assigned a training adviser in their employer's region, who provides ongoing support throughout the programme.”
“Finally, in regard to public sector pay grades and pay and conditions, the community training centres were established in 1977. They are grant aided by the education and training boards. In response to the Deputy's query, the Department has no role in the employment of CTC staff, including terms and conditions for the pay. As the Deputy knows, because she is a member of the board, it is the responsibility of the independent board of directors.”
“I will deal with two issues the Deputy raised, one of which is funding to community education, Youthreach and CTCs. I did say there is no specific additional funding in 2026. SOLAS has advised that the investment in community education increased by 55% from 2018 to 2024, from nearly €11 million to over €70 million now. Therefore, we can see that the funding is increasing. We also introduced the reach fund in 2020. The Deputy knows what that fund does and the importance of it. We are pleased to announce that over €4.5 million from that fund will benefit more than 700 community education providers. SOLAS has advised that in regard to Youthreach, the allocation has increased from €74 million in 2024 to €76 million this year.”
“The allocation to the further education and training sector will be finalised in the coming period, and it is important to say it will support infrastructure projects through the minor capital works emergency health and safety works, small- and medium-scale projects under the strategic infrastructure upgrade fund and large-scale projects under the FET College of the Future, which, as the Deputy knows, is a major project fund.”
“To specifically answer the Deputy's question around capital, the allocation for the tertiary sector in 2026 is €810 million. Last year, the allocation was €677 million, so we can see that represents an increase of €133 million, which is quite significant. That will help to deliver research capacity and a pipeline of transformative projects, which will support a thriving, inclusive - that is a really important word - and future-focused education and research ecosystem.”
“This will increase that fund from €5.7 million to €7.7 million in 2026. In addition, a funding uplift of over €30 million was allocated, which includes public sector and other pay increases and supports the retention of staff in the FET sector. Community education, Youthreach and community training centres, CTCs, are valued pillars of the further education and training sector. While no specific additional funding was acquired in budget 2026, SOLAS has advised that the allocation for this cohort increased from nearly €123 million in 2024 to €126 million in 2025. On the last part of the Deputy's question, the capital allocation for the tertiary sector for 2026 is €810 million, representing a significant increase from the 2025 allocation of €677 million. Finally, the allocation for the FET sector will be finalised in the coming weeks.”
“I thank the Deputy. My Department has secured a gross allocation of almost €5 billion in budget 2026. That will support the delivery of inclusive high-quality learning opportunities across the entire tertiary education system. In 2026, we secured an additional investment of €79 million for apprenticeship delivery, as well as €2.5 million to permanently reduce student fees for apprenticeships. This is not a once-off. This is the largest single investment since the Department was formed in 2020. The total investment for apprenticeships will be over €400 million, more than double what it was in 2020. I have also secured investment of €2 million to expand the fund for students with disabilities, ensuring that learners with intellectual disabilities are supported across all levels of study.”
“The Government's objective is that by 2030 we will have 12,500 apprenticeships in the system. We are already well on track to achieving that, with, I think, about 9,300 last year. The Deputy said we are relying on migrant workers. Certainly, they play an important role in the sector. We are pleased to see that the sector is working but we also have a responsibility to grow the number of apprenticeships. There is our action plan for construction, which is there up to this year, and we are launching a new action plan. Our objective is to ensure that more people, especially women, see apprenticeships as a viable, exciting, interesting career pathway. I use the word "pathway" because it is not just an end in itself; an apprenticeship is a pathway into so many different areas in the construction sector, some on site, some off site.”
“We need more apprentices, and the objective of this Government is to see that that pipeline of apprentices continues to grow.”
“As the Deputy said, this funding will increase the numbers of apprentices already here. We see that phase 2 training capacity has increased from 5,600 in 2023 to over 7,000 in 2025 across the country. He also mentioned the fact that more instructors are being put in place. Over 80 instructors were converted from fixed term to permanent, and that supports retention, which is the question the Deputy asks: how we will retain apprenticeships in this country? It is also worth noting that over 130 new instructors have been recruited. He can see from that that the Government is determined to grow this sector. Retention of apprentices obviously depends on the work being there. We can see that. There is full employment in the sector.”
“To further support apprentices, €2.5 million was also secured to reduce the cost of attending higher education. Generally we are talking here about phase 4 and phase 6 apprenticeships. What is important is that this will permanently lower fees by 17% for over 14,000 apprentices in the 2025 to 2026 academic year, including more than 11,000 craft apprentices. As can be seen, the Government not only recognises the need to increase the number of apprentices, especially in the craft trades, but we are supporting this objective by ensuing additional funding. The evidence is there. In recent years, the apprenticeship system has grown significantly. For example, annual craft apprenticeship registrations rose by 63% from 2020 to 2024 and the number of apprentices in construction has risen by 50% between 2020 and 2025.”
“The Government remains firmly committed to apprenticeships and has significantly expanded the opportunities for learners in recent years. We fully recognise the vital role that apprentices play in equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to meet national priorities. That includes infrastructure delivery. The Minister, Deputy Lawless, and I have prioritised this area and in budget 2026 we secured an additional €79 million investment in apprenticeships. That is the largest investment since the formation of the Department. This investment will directly support the expansion of the craft apprenticeship system and support key trades such as plumbing and electrical, which are essential to delivering the national development plan 2025.”
“In fact, if a tenancy ends on or after 1 March 2026 because the tenant leaves or breaches their obligations, the landlord may reset the rent to market rate for the new tenant. Rent controls are being modified to help landlords to keep their rental income in line with inflation and not fall behind market rent. There is also a key message for tenants. It is that if they create a new tenancy with a new landlord from 1 March 2026 and do not breach their obligations, they will have greater security to remain in situ for a minimum of six years. Some flexibility will be provided for smaller landlords to end tenancies if they face hardship or their family needs to occupy a property.”
“On the basis of the response I have here, it seems that the Government is trying to ensure a fair balance. The Government is focused on growing the supply of much-needed rental accommodation by keeping existing landlords in the market but also by attracting new landlords. I hear what the Deputy is saying, however. By doing this, we must ensure strong and balanced tenancy protections for tenants and landlords. The residential tenancies (amendment) (No. 2) Bill will be published as soon as possible in order to allow the new measures to come into effect by 1 March 2026. The key message from the Government for landlords is that if they have existing tenancies, for example, those created on or before 28 February 2026, their right to terminate those tenancies will not change on foot of the impending Bill.”
“The figures have remained relatively static this year, with 240,798 registered private tenancies at the end of quarter 2 of 2025, representing an increase of 3.2% annually and an increase of 0.08% from quarter 1 of 2025. The statistics reflect the constant movement in the rental sector but also that the overall number of tenancies remains steady. The Government and I appreciate that the ending of any tenancy impacts the lives of both the tenant and the landlord. Landlords can be reassured that the current tenancy termination rules will continue to apply to an existing tenancy. The March changes will not apply. A detailed communications campaign will be undertaken by the Department, in conjunction with the RTB, between the publication of the Bill and the introduction of the new legislative measures from 1 March next year.”
“In addition, all notices of termination must be copied to the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, at the same time as being served to the tenant and will be invalid if not so copied. It is worth noting that during quarter 2 of 2025, according to the most recently published statistics by the RTB, there were 14,742 new tenancy registrations, while 4,728 notices of termination were received by the RTB. This does not represent a significant increase, just less than 1%. It is also important to appreciate that not every notice of termination results in a tenancy termination taking effect. The most recent statistics available through the RTB’s profile of the register show that, since quarter 2 of 2023, the number of registered private tenancies and landlords has continually increased year on year.”