Last night I spoke on the Sinn Féin Bill which aims to halt the student rents shakedown by giving students in student specific accommodation the protection of the Residential Tenancies Act including access to the Residential Tenancies Board and inclusion in the rent pressure zones. Students in DCU did ‘Sleep Outs’ last April to highlight the outrageous hikes in student rental accommodation. This Bill addresses their concerns.

I spoke at the Oireachtas Transport Committee yesterday on the impact the construction of Metro North will have on local communities,schools, clubs and residents and particularly in relation to the devasting effect it will have on clubs like Na Fianna and Home Farm if their grounds are used to store heavy boring equipment or work is commenced from there. The clubs, schools and residents made impassioned and thoughtful presentations to the committee. I hope the NTA and the TII have taken on board all these views and my suggestion to look at alternative locations for the commencement of work and the storing of equipment. Lets hope they have got the message that their current proposal is not acceptable and is unworkable.