Outlining his party's proposals Cllr John Dwyer said: "Sinn Féin Councillors in County Wexford, have expressed serious and urgent concern, at the plight of local authority tenants, since the recent dramatic increases in rents on local authority housing in Wexford.

"Real and undue hardships have been placed on households by the current scheme whereby there is no set limit to the maximum rent that the local authorities can charge.

"Neither is there any uniform standard in the quality of housing provided. A considerable number of homes are undeniably sub-standard. However under the present system there is no account taken for the quality of accommodation provided and rent is assessed at the maximum amount that the local authority feels that it can recover from tenants.

"Local Councils are behaving in a manner more akin to a commercial enterprise, seeking to maximise revenue, rather than fulfilling their social function in providing housing for a fair and reasonable rent.

"This commercial-like approach to local authority housing, while at the same time failing to use monies collected to upgrade and improve the current housing stock is an example of the worst form of landlordism.

"It must be highlighted that this situation has arisen over time, due to the dominance of Fianna Fáil Councillors, on local authorities in Wexford. These same Councillors have demonstrated that they are unable or unwilling to challenge their own Minister for Finance. They have been consistent only, in putting the requirements of Fianna Fáil above the needs of the people of Wexford.

"Sinn Féin Councillors will be proposing motions at the March meetings of Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey, Urban and Town Councils, that the maximum allowable rent on local authority homes should be capped at 12% of the principal earners income."