Simon Coveney rejects rent controls

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has signalled that rent controls will not be used to help tenants and instead promised to fast-track 33,000 new homes in urban areas.

Amid high rents which are now soaring beyond the boom times in Dublin, the Government is set to unveil a package of measures for the rental sector next month.

Rent freezes, introduced by the last government, stop reviews of rates for two years. These restrictions on rent reviews will stay in place until 2019.