The average rent prices in Ireland have risen by 8.3% this year, new figures have shown.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) published its rent index for quarter three of 2021, with the average rent now sitting at €1,397.

Sinn Féin representative Eoin Ó Broin TD has commented on the figures, expressing serious concern at the "extortionate level" of rent in Dublin.

Teachta Ó Broin said: "Rents in Dublin have breached the HCIP cap that was in place and have risen by 6%. Rents outside the greater Dublin area Dublin risen by 12.7%.


"Twenty counties experienced rent rises of over 10%. With the figures show that rents are rising the fastest in Leitrim, with the county experiencing 21.5% year-on-year growth with Longford also experiencing rent rises of over 20%.

"The rent caps do not work for rent pressure zones and for counties where they don’t apply renters are left struggling with astronomical rent rises.

"This system needs to be scrapped and we need to see a ban on rent increases across the state. This government is in denial if it thinks anymore tinkering around the edges of a broken system will make any difference to renters.

"Sinn Féin has a plan to deliver genuinely affordable homes to rent and to buy. We would ban rent increases for three years and introduce a refundable tax credit worth one month’s rent for private rented sector tenants."