Sinn Fein's David Cullinane made the comment after a recent Daft.ie Rental Report revealed that rents are rising for a short supply of available homes which is pushing people into homelessness and emergency accommodation.
Mr Cullinane said: "The figures released from Daft show the supply of rental homes is at the lowest point in a decade, with an overall increase of 8.2% in rent prices across the country from the same time last year.
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"Rising rents are continuing to cause homelessness across the country with the result that we have more than 1,300 children and 3,000 adults in emergency accommodation, and 90,000 people on the housing waiting list.
"This is a scandal which the government and Minister Kelly clearly find acceptable – they either do nothing or else introduce policy measures that exacerbate the situation.
"What we need is action to ensure housing for all who need it and an immediate increase in rent supplement and the Housing Assistance Payment.
"We also need legislation to protect tenants in the Private Rental Sector so they have greater rent certainty and increased security of tenure."
(CD)
