Sinn Féin Say Wicklow Rent Hikes Forcing Families Into "Impossible Choices"

Sinn Féin TD warns of devastating impact as Council considers 100-200% increases; protest planned for Monday

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has issued a stark warning about the human cost of proposed local authority rent hikes, describing how constituents are being forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and caring for family members.

Speaking following a week of engagement with residents affected by the increases, Brady highlighted the scale of the proposed hikes, which in many cases represent increases of 100%, 200% or more.

"Over the last week I've been absolutely overwhelmed by the stories people have been sharing with me about the impact these rent hikes by Wicklow County Council are going to have on their lives."

The TD drew particular attention to the plight of vulnerable residents. He described meeting with a pensioner who provides full-time care for his wife, who is gravely ill.

"His rent has gone up by nearly 100%, and he has to pay to get his wife to medical care every single day. He broke down in tears telling me that he simply doesn't know how he's going to afford to keep doing it. He's now having to look at cutting back on the level of care his wife receives because he simply cannot find the money."

The Real Impact

Brady emphasised that these are not abstract financial figures, but decisions with real consequences for real people.

"It seems to be completely lost in this whole debate that people don't have an endless supply of money. People account for every single euro they receive every week. So when someone tells you that your rent is going to increase by 100% in the middle of a cost of living crisis, you're not just changing a number on a piece of paper, you're forcing people to make impossible choices."

The TD outlined the stark reality facing many Wicklow households:

Do they pay the rent? Do they heat their home? Do they buy food? Do they pay for transport to medical appointments? Do they pay for the care that their loved ones desperately need?

Brady warned that for some families, these increases could prove to be the tipping point that pushes them into crisis.

"People cannot simply pull hundreds of extra euros out of thin air. And there are real consequences to these decisions. I genuinely believe that for some families, these rent hikes could be the tipping point. They could be the breaking point for many people."

In response, Brady is calling on residents to make their voices heard at a planned protest outside Wicklow County Council.

📍 Protest Details

When: Monday, 9:30am

Where: Outside Wicklow County Council

Why: Special Council meeting coincides with protest to discuss rent hikes

"We need to make it absolutely clear that these rent hikes cannot go ahead like this. Because this isn't just about percentages. It isn't just about budgets or spreadsheets or figures in a council document. It's about people. Real people. It's about pensioners. It's about families. It's about people who are already struggling to make ends meet."

Brady concluded with an urgent call for action: "Please, if you can show up next Monday at 9:30am outside Wicklow County Council. Because people across Wicklow are already feeling the consequences. And we cannot wait until it's too late."

Over the last week, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from people facing rent increases of 100%, 200% and more from Wicklow County Council.

Today, a pensioner broke down in tears telling me that his rent has doubled. His wife is gravely ill, and he’s struggling to afford the… pic.twitter.com/L1SE0IClVP

— John Brady TD (@johnbradysf) September 23, 2026