Sinn Féin has criticised the new measures for rent certainty and rent freezes and said they are failing families in Fingal, Dublin.

Election candidate for Dublin Fingal, Louise O'Reilly, said the measures announced by the Environment Minister Alan Kelly will do little to protect families relying on social welfare.

She said: "The Minister has failed to address the issues faced by families on a daily basis and while there may not be an increase for a small number of renters for two years it is almost certain that there will be rent hikes in the short term and when the rent increases do occur there is no limit - on these increases.

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"Families who are relying on social welfare will see no increase in the levels for availing of rent allowance and without this essential measure they are as much at risk of homelessness as they were before this announcement.

"The Minister has clearly capitulated to the demands of Fine Gael and has utterly failed to stands up for tenants and those who are at risk of homelessness."

(CD/LM)