Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has come under heavy criticism for a lack of measures supporting those in the private rented sector in Budget 2022.

Sinn Féin representative Eoin Ó Broin spoke out following Leaders' Questions, criticising the government for its failure to cut rents and ban any increases.

"People are putting off having families, students are forced to choose between sky high rents and crippling commutes, and modest income workers approaching retirement are looking nervously to the future," said Deputy Ó Broin.

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"Help to Buy is not the solution that the Tánaiste claims it is. 

"It increased house prices even further, and more than 40% of those who benefitted from it already have sufficient funds for a deposit.

"We need to take action to reduce rental costs and ban any further increases.

"This government's disastrous attempt to link rents to inflation is meaningless as figures today show that the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices is now at 3.8%. This is coupled with property price rises of almost 11% annually.

"People renting, one in four households in the Tánaiste's own backyard, cannot tolerate any more spin and inaction from this government.

"Sinn Féin in government would ban rent increases, introduce tax relief for those renting in the private rented sector and deliver 8,000 genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy annually."