Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Bay North Denise Mitchell has said that the government is sitting on its hands and leaving hundreds of thousands of renters at the mercy of a predatory market that is making working and having a family in Dublin almost impossible.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson for Dublin said:

“Daft’s figures for rent in the North City now show an average rent of €1,937 a month. That is an annual rent of over €23,000. How can a family pay over potentially a years wage and expect to put children through school, take a holiday, or even have a Christmas when they are being subjected to such outrageously high rents?

“To say that the Government is unable to tackle the housing and rental crisis in Ireland is the charitable thing to say. The fact that this crisis has been allowed to fester for years under their regime would lead me to believe that they just don’t care.

“Sinn Féin want to give renters an emergency three-year rent freeze and provide a tax break equal to one month’s rent.

“These are two simple, effective measures that would make a real, substantial difference for those struggling with sky high rents.”