Latest: Cost of renting now €1,131 a month, up 13.4% year-on-year
Housing experts say the introduction of rent pressure zones are not working, and that rents are still rising drastically.
The average cost of renting is now €1,131 a month, up 13.4% year-on-year.
Fewer houses are also available for rent, with just over 3,000 properties available on May 1st.
Martin Clancy from Daft.ie outlines some of the most expensive area.
"It is an increase of 8.2% on this period last year, but the difference in prices obviously in Roscommon compared to other parts of the country are huge.
"In Waterford a three bed property would be €764, Cork would be €1,140, and the same property in Stillorgan would be €1,958," he said.
Fianna Fail's spokesperson on housing has said the situation regarding rental properties is an "emergency" and a "crisis".
Speaking on Today with Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1, Barry Cowen said compulsory purchase powers are there to address social need and they should be "used extensively" and immediately.
He said a programme should be initiated by the Minister for Housing and the Dept of Housing where "the local authorities should instructed to start proceedings to compulsorily purchase those properties to bring them into use."
He said he was referring to the "vacant units, the vacant dilapidated buildings in many villages and towns and cities throughout the country where people are looking to see those come into use."
"And I say to Minister Coveney and I say to Fine Gael now that they have at their disposal, compulsory purchase powers, which are there in order to address social need.
"I say to them use them. Use them extensively and use them immediately. They have the potential to get results and they will crystallise the issues that is holding this property back," he said.
The Housing Minister is being urged to introduce rent certainty as new figures show prices are at an all-time high.
The monthly rental rate now stands at over €1,100 around the country - but in parts of Dublin it is more than €1,800.
Analysts are blaming the hikes on a supply shortage caused by inadequate building levels.
Social Democrats Co-leader Catherine Murphy says the Government needs to take control of the situation: "I think that you have to realise that housing is a public good as well as a market function and essentially we have to see housing as something different then a commodity.
"We have a piece in the constitution that protects private property, it does so in the context of respecting the public good."
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