The Labour Party has introduced a bill aimed at tackling the shortage in housing supply in Ireland.

The Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016 includes measures to address issues including affordability and supply, rising rents and tenants' rights and the hoarding of land by developers.

Labour Deputy Jan O'Sullivan said: "Just last week, figures from property website Daft.ie revealed how residential rents have soared across the country by 11.7 per cent year-on-year, in the third quarter of the year.

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"This puts enormous pressure on renters and sadly as we've been seeing, is driving more and more people out of their homes and onto the streets.

"The Labour Party Bill would link rent to the consumer price index to ensure that rent increases remain affordable and related directly to the general cost of living.

"It also moves to further protect renters by prohibiting landlords from using the sale of the property as grounds for evicting tenants before their lease is up. There is considerable evidence that many of these homes remain vacant for years after being put up for sale."

(CD/LM)