Sinn Féin is urging Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to introduce a rent cap in Co Meath.

Rents in Meath have risen by 17.3% between September and December last year, according to Daft.ie.

The figures show that this is the highest increase in the state, along with Co Louth who have also seen rents increase by 17.3%.

Deputy Tóibín said: "The average rent in Meath is €1050, which makes renting accommodation unaffordable for many lower-income families and those on minimum wage.

"Rents have jumped by 50% in the last four years. It’s unacceptable. But it doesn't have to be this way. Sinn Féin have tabled a number of bills which would link rent increases with inflation. Yet these have been voted down time and time again by both the government and Fianna Fáil.

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"What the government enabled by Fianna Fáil did do was introduce a very weak bill which limited rent increases by four percent but only in certain geographic areas. Meath East was covered in this. But what this means that cumulatively people in Meath East will have to pay €3,000 extra.

"But shockingly most of the towns in Meath West were left out. Navan, Enfield, Athboy, Trim, Oldcastle and even Kells, were left out of this rent cap. Now what remains is a rent free-for-all for landlords. This means that on average, Meath renters will have to pay €12,000 extra on average over the next three years. This is a shocking imposition on renters and it will push more people into homelessness.

"I'm urging the government to must reconsider their rent pressure zone strategy and legislate for real rent certainty."

(CD/LM)