Fianna Fáil has hit out at the Environment Minister over the continuing rent crisis affecting people Ireland.

Spokesperson on Environment and Local Government Barry Cowen said the rental crisis constitutes a "moral failing" on behalf of landlords.

Figures released by the PRTB revealed a 7% increase in rents throughout the country, with a 9% increase in Dublin since January.

Deputy Cowen said: "While no one condones the excessive rents that many landlords are charging, it is the failure of this government to take any actions to address the lack of housing supply which has caused the rent explosion.

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"As we have been saying for some time, we have a Minister who mistook newspaper coverage of his announcements for action on the crisis. In his rush to declare himself the best housing minister that the country has seen, he missed the massive rental crisis that was emerging under his nose. Minister Kelly simply does not have any policy ideas for addressing the rental crisis.

"I urge the Minister to implement Fianna Fáil's detailed and costed policy program to bring immediate relief to renters, which we published in our 'Generation Rent – A New Deal for Rents' policy document last month."

(CD/LM)