Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan has described Dublin City Council’s decision to support a Sinn Féin motion to review recent rent hikes as a “major victory” for the campaign to reverse the increases.
The Ballyfermot-Drimnagh councillor said, “I am delighted that Dublin City Council voted unanimously to support Sinn Féin’s motion to review recent council rent hikes.”
He said, “this is a major victory for the campaign to reverse the rent hike.”
At Monday night’s meeting of Dublin City Council, Sinn Féin tabled a motion aiming to reverse the recent rent hikes for council, HAP and RAS tenants.
“Households are facing a cost-of-living crisis and we need to do all we can to reduce that burden,” Doolan explained.
“Council, HAP and RAS tenants have been hit with rent increases that add to the pressure for struggling families. Many tenants are living in overcrowded, mouldy, damp conditions. I have seen for myself whole blocks of council flats riddled with damp. It is unacceptable that these tenants are now be forced to pay more rent with little or no hope of improved housing conditions.”
“Meanwhile, HAP and RAS tenants in the precarious private tented sector are paying more rent and will never benefit from the promised maintenance programme the rent increase is supposed to fund.”
The decision to increase rents for council tenants was a major row on Dublin City Council in 2025 and into 2026, with the issue becoming a doorstep issue in May’s Dublin Central by-election.
Doolan, who leads Sinn Féin on Dublin City Council, said “Sinn Féin will use every opportunity available to us to reduce the burden on the people we represent. That is why we are putting a halt to the recent rent increases for council, HAP and RAS tenants.”
“These rent increases are happening at a time when council management are proposing to demolish the Wood Quay office and to Camden Yard. This vanity project will cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of euros. This clearly shows that there is money when senior management want funds, but there are no funds to improve the quality of life for our tenants.”
“Sinn Féin will prioritise ensuring the rent hikes are reversed as soon as possible,” he said.