Coalition to prepare other measures to control rent
Brendan Howlin has played down the extent of any row between the government parties over plans to control the cost of rent.
The Public Expenditure minister was speaking after Fine Gael and Labour could not agree on plans to include in yesterday's Budget.
Instead the Coalition will have to prepare other measures to control rent, and announce them in the coming weeks.
Brendan Howlin said both parties are determined to find ways to control rent, and are keen to strike a deal to do so.
"Some people demand for example, that we increase the rent subsidy, but that's not going to solve anything," Mr Howlin said.
"If you increase the rent subsidy when there's a finite number of houses available, all you do is put the rent up, and you knock out the next cohort of people who are managing to pay their rent now, and push them out of the market."
