Fianna Fáil has slammed the Government for failing to deal with the ongoing housing crisis affecting Ireland.

Spokesperson on Environment Barry Cowen said the new figures reveal that housing supply hit its lowest level at the beginning of this month.

The report from Daft.ie also highlighted the fact that rents rose by an average of 9% in 2015.

Mr Cowen accused Fine Gael and Labour of ignoring all the warnings signs and it has now plunged into a national crisis.

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He said: "The fact of the matter is this Government took its eye of the ball, neglected to plan ahead and failed to build houses and apartments. As a result we have a shortage of rental properties with huge rents being requested, a massive social housing waiting list and a homelessness crisis unlike anything that has gone before.

"Fine Gael and Labour have completely mismanaged the housing situation and have demonstrated with absolute clarity that they cannot be trusted. In contrast Fianna Fáil has put forward a fully costed, independently assessed alternative for housing."

(CD/MH)