A protest has been held at Leinster House in Dublin over the 27% rise in rent for accommodation in Shanowen student halls near Dublin City University.

Sinn Féin supported the protest and called on the Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy to include an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act that treats student licence agreements in the same way as Part 4 tenancies.

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The party's housing spokesperson, Eoin Ó Broin TD, said: "This would give students full access to all the tenant rights provided for in the Residential Tenancies Act. This includes access to Residential Tenancies Board if a dispute arises and minimum notice to quit periods.

"Also, student accommodation within rent pressure zone areas would be covered by the 4% cap to annual rent increases.

"Providers of already expensive student accommodation should not benefit from gaps in the current legislation to charge whatever they see fit."

(CD/LM)