Fianna Fáil is calling on the Environment Minister to make "realistic proposals" on how to tackle the housing crisis throughout Ireland.

Spokesperson for Environment and Local Government Barry Cowen said Minister Alan Kelly has failed in what he set out to do.

According to a report by Daft.ie rents have risen rapidly across the country. Rents in Cork have increased by 7% and Galway rents have risen by 6%.

Deputy Cowen said: "It is no coincidence that the largest rent increases in over ten years were recorded when Minister Kelly was fumbling and fooling with rent controls. Many people warned the Minister that he was playing with fire when he started kite-flying on the issue of rent certainty while having no concrete proposals to back up his plan.

-- Advertisement --

"Minister Kelly has been trying to introduce rent certainty for 18 months now and he has utterly failed to achieve what he set out to do. He has little to show for his continuous grandstanding since he came to office. He was forced into a humiliating climb-down by Fine Gael and had to settle for watered down proposals. In the meantime his mishandling of the situation has led to more hardship for tenants across the country.

"It's alarming to see rents increase at such a rapid pace. It's a clear sign that the Government has failed to get to grips with the housing crisis."

(CD/MH)