Alan Kelly: Rent policy still part of plan for housing

Environment Minister Alan Kelly insists his rent certainty scheme remains “very much” part of plans to address the housing crisis, despite ongoing claims his own party is losing faith in the proposal.

Responding to suggestions yesterday that Labour ministers have joined with Fine Gael in accepting the plan to link rent prices to the consumer price index will not happen, a spokesperson for the minister said that Mr Kelly still believes the policy is central to discussions.

While declining to give a “cast iron” guarantee the initiative will be included in any housing plan, the spokesperson said it remains “very much” part of considerations and denied reports that it has been rejected by the Department of Finance.