Dublin, Ireland – The Irish government is set to announce a substantial financial aid package for Gaza, while simultaneously preparing to implement a nationwide Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) to address the domestic housing crisis.
Ireland Commits Millions in Further Aid to Gaza
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, is slated to inform the Cabinet of a significant commitment of millions of euro in further aid to Gaza over the coming months. This move follows the Government’s prior pledge of an additional €6 million in humanitarian aid, bringing the total Irish contribution since 2023 to more than €100 million.
Mr. Harris will highlight that the work on this substantial aid package is already under way. He is also expected to inform colleagues that recent developments in the Middle East present “finally an opportunity to ease the immense suffering of the people of Gaza who have endured untold horrors.” The Tánaiste’s briefing comes as Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal, coinciding with Israel’s release of Palestinian detainees.
Ireland has also joined the Emergency Coalition for the Financial Sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, underscoring a commitment that is likely to see the country ultimately commit funding for the reconstruction of Gaza. Furthermore, a consignment of 1,500 tents is scheduled for imminent delivery to Gaza, with 750 tents sourced from Ireland’s humanitarian stocks.
Housing Minister to Seek Approval for Nationwide RPZ
In domestic policy news, Minister for Housing, James Browne, will seek Cabinet approval to draft legislation that will make the entire country a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) from next March.
This upcoming bill is a major shake-up for the rental sector and will introduce a publicly accessible rent register for the first time. The legislation will permit the resetting of rents for new tenancies beginning on or after March 1, 2026, but only in specific cases, such as where a tenant ends the tenancy or if the landlord terminates it due to a breach of the tenant’s obligations.
Landlords with up to three tenancies will be classified as ‘smaller landlords’ under the new rules. Minister Browne is set to assure the Government that the legislation will have “no tolerance for price gouging” and will also provide for Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) hearings to be held in public.
Progress on Cutting Red Tape for Businesses
Separately, Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, is due to present a memo to the Government detailing the progress made in his department’s efforts to cut red tape for businesses. A review of all Local Enterprise Office grant schemes has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of questions required for each grant approval.
As part of this efficiency drive, Minister Burke has instructed Enterprise Ireland to target a 24-hour turnaround time for application approvals.
