Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has come under pressure to address questions on his rental strategy following the publication of a new report.

The Residential Tenancies Board has published its Q2 report for 2019, revealing an average annual state-wide rent rise of 7%.

Other figures show rents have breached the rent pressure zone cap of 4% in 22 out of 26 counties, with renters experiencing double digit rental inflation in a year in six counties.

Sinn Féin representative Eoin Ó Broin has called on the Minister to address the concerns.

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Deputy Ó Broin said: "While the Minister may claim that the rate of inflation is slowing renters are still being hit with monthly rents well above the 4% cap.

"Minister Murphy must now accept that rent pressure zones failing renters. He must abandon his failing rental strategy and stop claiming that expensive 'alternatives' such as co-living will offer any real respite to renters.

"Sinn Féin is reiterating its call for a three-year emergency rent freeze, combined with a refundable tax credit for renters that would put the equivalent of one month’s rent back in their pockets.

"We also need to need a major investment in affordable cost rental in Budget 2020.  

"The government is failing renters and Minister Murphy must now come into the Dáil to take questions and explain to the public why this government doesn't care about renters."

(CM/JG)