Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has called for a radical change in direction after the latest Daft.ie rent report shows rents across the state rising by 5% last year to an average of €1836 per month.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The latest Daft.ie rent report shows rents continuing to spiral upwards. Average new rents are now €1836 per month. In Dublin City, average rents are €2,353. Limerick City has seen one of the sharpest rises in the year of 17.5% with average rents there at €1933 per month.

“What all of this shows is that the government’s housing plan is not working. The Rent Pressure Zones are broken. The government’s rent tax credit is being swallowed by rent increases. The private rental sector continues to shrink, while the government’s social and affordable housing targets are too low, are not being met and, in many instances, the so-called affordable homes are not even affordable.

“We need a radical change in direction if we are to address the deepening housing and homelessness crisis. That means a ban on rent increases for all tenants, a full month’s rent back into every private renter’s pocket, and a dramatic increase and acceleration in the delivery of social, affordable rental and affordable purchase homes.

“As each week passes, the Fianna Fáil Fine Gael housing crisis deepens. Only a change of government and a new housing plan can start to undo the damage caused from years of bad government housing policy.”