UNSIGNED PREVIEW — not a promoted public release.
Actor: Fianna Fáil
insufficient_evidenceTopic: housing
Evidence: 15 events
Sources: 15
This promise by Fianna Fáil has INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE for a rating. Only 15 evidence events were found. More research is needed before a reliable assessment can be made.
This promise is SPECIFIC (vagueness score: 20/100). It includes measurable targets or deadlines that make it trackable. Specific promises are easier to verify as kept or broken.
Issue category: housing
The government's Programme for Government and the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan commit to increasing ICU bed capacity by at least a further 100 beds in subsequent phases, supported by the 2024–2031 expansion plan.
As of February 2025, 340 critical care beds had been delivered — an increase of 82 beds (31.7%) over the baseline. A further 12 critical care beds were funded and included in the National Service Plan 2025, targeting 352 critical care beds by end of 2025, completing Phase 1 of the ICU expansion.
The Sláintecare 2025+ plan reaffirms the goal of achieving a universal, single-tier health and social care system providing equitable access based on need, not ability to pay. The plan covers 2025–2027 with 23 individual projects aimed at this transformation.
Ireland's participation in SAFE will focus on acquiring artillery, cyber and air defence systems, as well as replacing the Army's fleet, aligning with broader European rearmament efforts.
An Oireachtas debate on 18 September 2025 described SAFE as an EU instrument providing up to €150 billion of loans backed by the EU to member states for defence procurement.
By November 2025, Harris indicated Ireland may draw on the €150 billion EU loan facility directly if domestic military funding proves insufficient to meet defence needs.
Cabinet approved the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, brought by Minister for Housing James Browne. The Bill proposed allowing landlords to reset rents to market rates for new tenancies from 1 March 2026, maintaining rent caps (inflation or 2%, whichever lower) for existing tenancies, introducing six-year tenancies of minimum duration, and banning no-fault evictions for tenants of landlords with four or more tenancies.
Minister Browne stated the rent reset change is 'viewed as critical to retain existing landlords and to attract new investment' and that 'doing nothing is simply not an option'. RTÉ analysis noted the legislation 'radically alters the market for tenants and landlords' and that it 'is likely to result in a surge in rents for new leases'.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin criticised the legislation: 'Given that the average length of a tenancy is three and a half years and 25% of tenancies registered annually are new tenancies, then within four to six years the vast majority of renters will be captured by this new rule and will be paying market rents.' He predicted 'unaffordable rents will be hiked even further' and pledged the legislation 'will be opposed tooth and nail'.
Large developers wrote to Minister Browne arguing the ban on no-fault evictions for landlords with 4+ tenancies 'would represent an unjust attack on the property rights of those with four tenancies or more'. The Irish Property Owners Association also called for the legislation's introduction to be delayed, noting that many small landlords have four tenancies in one house and would be categorised as large players subject to tighter eviction rules.
The Dáil debated the Bill on 4 February and 11 February 2026. Opposition raised concerns that the ban on no-fault evictions for larger landlords would lead to landlords selling up and fleeing the market.
The Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 was signed into law by the President. The official gov.ie press release states: provisions come into effect for new tenancies on or after 1 March 2026; existing tenancies unchanged; national system of rent control replacing RPZs; no-fault evictions 'significantly restricted'. Minister Browne stated the Act provides 'the most robust set of protections [tenants] have ever had'.
Citizens Information published detailed guidance confirming: from 1 March 2026, landlords of new tenancies can reset rent to market value when a tenant leaves voluntarily, breaks obligations, the property no longer meets needs, or the 6-year TMD ends. Landlords cannot reset rent after a no-fault eviction. For 'larger landlords' (4+ tenancies), no-fault evictions are banned entirely — they can only end tenancies if the tenant fails obligations or the property is no longer suitable. Smaller landlords (3 or fewer) retain additional grounds including hardship and family member use.
The RTB published official guidance: for new tenancies from 1 March 2026, landlords can set rent at market rates and can re-set to market rent once every 6 years. Rent increases during tenancies capped at inflation or 2%, whichever lower. Anti-eviction safeguard: landlords cannot reset rent after no-fault eviction within 2 years.
36 tenants in Bridgetown/Hazelwood estate, Co. Wexford were served eviction notices days before the new rental rules took effect on 1 March 2026. Minister Browne denied the evictions were linked to the new rules. However, on 5 March 2026, leaked video footage showed the landlord's representative stating he was handing out eviction notices 'because of the new rental rules'. The RTB opened a formal investigation.
Our 'Housing for All' policy is a plan which sets us on a pathway of delivering 300,000 new homes between now and 2030, an average of 33,000 per year.