Varadkar dismisses rent freeze despite renters paying higher amounts than at height of boom

The Taoiseach has dismissed opposition calls to introduce a rent freeze despite renters paying significantly higher amounts than at the height of the boom. Both Fianna Fáil, Sinn Fein and Labour have called on the Government to enforce a freeze after the latest Daft.ie report revealed rental costs are now €400 more than they were during the Celtic Tiger.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin accused the Government of "complacency" when it comes to tackling the housing crisis and said the rental report had made for "very serious and depressing" reading. Pointing to the fact that in Cork the average rent is now €1,372 showing he said rent controls are simply not working.