A Labour representative has hit out at the government's new housing budget for its lack of radical action.

Deputy Jan O'Sullivan slammed the budget for outlining "more of the same" proposals in an attempt to solve the housing and homelessness crisis.

Calling for for radical proposals, Deputy O'Sullivan said: "The cost of renting a home is now higher than it was at the height of the boom.

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"But we have seen no relief for hard-pressed renters in Budget 2020, other than €2m in funding allocated to the Residential Tenancies Board to boost enforcement of Rent Pressure Zones.

"As we all know, RPZs have failed to cap spiralling rents, and for many in high demand areas such as Dublin in particular, a four per cent increase on rent is itself significant. The Labour Party proposed freezing rents for a time to give renters some breathing room.

"There's no step-change in the snail's pace delivery of social housing, no affordable housing, minimal support for retrofitting for low-income households…no ambition."

(CM/JG)