Sinn Féin has reiterated its call for a three-year emergency rent freeze along with a refundable tax credit for renters.

This comes following the publication of the Residential Tenancies Board Q2 report for 2019, which shows an average annual state-wide rent rise of 7%.

Commenting on the figures, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay North Denise Mitchell said: "In Dublin City, renters are experiencing an increase of almost 9% this year. No one wages raise by that amount and the burden that rents put on workers is only growing worse.

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"Average rent in Dublin now €1,700 per month. The fact that in this city, your rent can easily run at more than €20,000 is staggering.

"Minister Murphy must now accept that his policy is 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 explain to the public why this government doesn't care about renters."

(CM/MH)