To amend the proposed 2026 budget to avoid rent increases

The amendment retains the current Differential Rent Scheme, preventing any of the rent increases proposed in the Draft Budget - protecting council tenants, HAP, RAS and AHB tenants. Our amendment: Allocates an additional 1.5 million euro for housing maintenance on top of what is already allocated; Adds €1.2 million for an expansion of capacity for private rental inspections; Provides €300,000 for expanded enforcement of planning rules on whole-home short-term lets - the vast majority of which are operating outside the law; Creates a Local Business Support Scheme worth €23.8 million to protect 97.2 percent of businesses from any effective increase in commercial rates. (Note this saves small businesses from the rate increases proposed under the draft budget).