FINE GAEL AND Fianna Fáil have reached a deal on the government’s rent plan.

On Tuesday, Housing Minister Simon Coveney announced the government’s plan to tackle spiraling rent costs.

While much of the plan was met with approval from Fianna Fáil, their spokesperson Barry Cowen said that two areas in particular are being opposed.

These were the limiting of “rent pressure zones” to Dublin and Cork and a plan to cap rent increases in the designated zones to 4% per year over a three-year period.

The impasse led to the government trying to withdraw its own bill from the Dáil today.

Without Fianna Fáil, the government would not be in a position to pass the legislation.

In the last hour, however, a deal between the parties has been reached.

In a statement, Cowen said:

“Following an intensive negotiation process, Fianna Fáil has achieved significant progress on ten out of these twelve proposals.

We have not achieved everything we sought, but as a result of Fianna Fáil intervention, there will now be an immediate examination of the market conditions in Limerick city, Galway city, Waterford city, areas contiguous to Cork city and the commuter belt surrounding Dublin in counties Louth, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow.

“It is expected that most, if not all, of these areas will be included within the scheme”

“Convincing Fine Gael to accept rent control in areas of high pressure is a major achievement.”

Cowen criticised Coveney for “failing to consult in any meaningful way” with Fianna Fáil.

More to follow