Coalition warned on housing crisis

Rent controls and a massive home building drive are needed to ease the housing crisis, Sinn Féin has warned the Government.

The move came as an Oireachtas committee was told that house prices would rise strongly over the next two years and that 51% of purchases are being made with cash payments.

Sinn Féin housing spokesman Dessie Ellis said far more needs to be invested in building social housing to ensure people can access affordable homes, insisting European funding could be used.