Nearly one in five TDs are landlords, registry shows
At least 30 of the 158 TDs in the 32nd Dáil rent out property to tenants. There are 52 new TDs who are yet to record their land and property interests with the Oireachtas registry before January of next year.
TDs have to register such rentals when their share of annual rent exceeds €2,600 a month. They don’t have to register properties that they, their spouse or child lives in.
Figures in the latest Daft rental report have shown an increase in the average rent nationwide of 9.3% in the year up to March.
The biggest recorded landlord in the Dáil is Kerry Deputy Michael Healy Rae who in his submission at the start of this year recorded two farmhouses rented out and a rental property in his home village of Kilgarvan. He also has a rental apartment at Killarney, houses rented out in Kenmare, Castleisland and Killarney, and student accommodation in Limerick.
Fianna Fáil’s John Mc Guinness’ declaration listed three rental properties in Dublin, three in Kilkenny, property in Limerick and Tipperary, and interest in a nursing home.
Social Democrat, Stephen Donnelly has rental property at Beacon South Quarter in Dublin and in Clara, Co Offaly.
Former ceann comhairle and Fine Gael TD, Sean Barrett describes himself as a “shareholder in a company that owns an office block and which is leased to a tenant.” Minister for Housing Simon Coveney declared a rental property at Harty’s Quay, Rochestown, in Cork, while Agriculture Minister Michael Creed’s declaration of members’ interests records rental property at three addresses in Macroom, Co Cork.
Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary had two month’s rental income from a property that he once lived in on Distillery Road in Dublin but sold it in July 2015.
Fine Gael Galway East TD, Ciarán Cannon is an executive director in a property company.
Fine Gael’s Marcella Corcoran Kennedy declared she was left 27 acres at Ferbane, Co Offaly that has been rented out.
Colleague, Waterford TD, John Deasy has a rental apartment at Citywest in Dublin while Pat Deering has a rental property in Rathvilly, Co Carlow.
Chief whip Regina Doherty has property at Ashbourne Business Park and at City Campus in Limerick. Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley has two Dublin properties at Charlotte Quay and Rathfarnham which he has rented out.
Charlie Flanagan lets a holiday house in Co Sligo part of the year while Terence Flanagan also has a share in a rental property in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Sean Fleming let a former post office in County Laois for part of last year.
Independent, Noel Grealish rented out a house in Galway and apartment in Dublin . He also has a 8,800 sq. feet commercial unit at Briarhill, Galway.
Martin Heydon has rental property in Co Limerick while Paul Kehoe has a letting in Enniscorthy and an apartment on Haddington Road. Fianna Fail Cork TD, Billy Kelleher rents out an apartment in Glanmire.
Fianna Fáil’s Brendan Smith has a rental apartment in Dublin while Robert Troy recorded two rental properties in Mullingar and in Dublin. Wexford’s Mick Wallace has two properties rented in Wicklow.
