Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has said the lack of supply of rental accommodation across the country is an utter emergency.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Keelin Shanley, he outlined the party's proposals to address the rental crisis.
He said the plan would allow landlords to expense property tax against rental income and claim full mortgage tax relief on any lease over four years.
Mr Cowen also said they would implement rent certainty to limit changes in rent by plus or minus 10%, with this measure being reviewed every 3-6 months.
He said the Private Residential Tenancies Board would be charged with the responsibility on adjudicating this increase based on the previous four years in that area.
He also said they would introduce 45,000 social housing units over the next four years.
Mr Cowen said there were no provisions in legislation to ensure market meets the demand, and if the market meets demand in the future the legislation could be amended or removed.
In response, Fintan McNamara of the Residential Landlords Association, said there already is rent certainty as landlords can only increase rents once a year in line with local rates.
Speaking on the same programme, Mr McNamara said rent controls would scare off investment.
He said the ban on budget accommodation should be reviewed or abolished.
He said the Government received a report from DKM Consultants last September that strongly recommended against rent control because of the impact on the market, including poor quality housing and the effect on supply.
Mr McNamara said Ireland was the most highly regulated rental sector in Western Europe.
