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The Social Democrats are moving a motion in the Dáil tomorrow calling on the government to scrap this latest sweetheart deal for developers. The government must scrap its bizarre plan to gift developers up to €144,000 per apartment and instead use the money to deliver affordable, social and cost-rental homes, according to Social Democrats Housing […]

To date, all we have gotten from this government are delays, excuses and prevarications Any further delay to the introduction of a vacant homes tax is inexcusable and incomprehensible, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “There were reports at the weekend that the introduction of a vacant homes tax is in doubt after […]

There are just 64 properties to rent in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford cities combined – but 225 on Airbnb in Galway city alone Double digit increases in rent, and an unprecedented 77pc collapse in rental supply, are further indictments of the government’s handling of the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian […]

Why is the ambition of this government, when it comes to housing, so pathetically weak? The Housing Minister’s plan to bail out developers out to the tune of €120,000 per apartment, without securing any reduction in the cost of those apartments, is perhaps his most inane policy yet, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian […]

There is a crisis of decreasing rates of home ownership in this country which this government has failed to address The Housing Minister must confirm whether it is government policy that more than 80pc of residential development in Dublin City should be build-to-rent, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The proportion of build-to-rent […]

Just 175 social homes were built by the four Dublin local authorities last year It is a shocking indictment of the government’s failed housing policy that child homelessness has increased by 30pc in the past year, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Figures released by the Department of Housing today show that homelessness […]

Renters in Dublin today will pay €12,000 more in rent per annum than they did in 2011 Average rental costs for new tenancies in Dublin are now more than the annual income of those on the minimum wage, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “According to the latest report from the Residential Tenancies […]

If these figures represent success for the Minister’s plan, one wonders what failure would look like? There has been lots of bluster from the Housing Minister on the progress he is making in housing – but very little evidence of any delivery, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The latest progress report for […]

When will the Housing Minister deliver on his promises? A new Simon Communities’ report showing a huge decline in the number of rental properties available to HAP claimants is further evidence that the housing crisis is getting worse, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The ‘Locked Out’ report reveals that the housing crisis […]

This Bill is a missed opportunity for real and substantial political reform The Electoral Reform Bill, which is being debated in the Dáil today, fails to live up to its name, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The pace of political reform in this country is incredibly slow. Fianna Fáil and the Green […]

Tomorrow, a Social Democrats’ Bill, “Ban On Sex For Rent 2022”, will be debated by the Dáil. The government must fast-track legislation which makes demanding sex in lieu of rent a specific criminal offence, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “As the rental crisis deepens, there have been reports of a minority of […]

This shows the depraved depths of the housing crisis, where grossly exploitative landlords expect sexual favours in return for putting a roof over people’s heads Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan is today launching legislation which would make demanding sex for rent a criminal offence. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “As the rental crisis deepens, there have […]

It is clear rent caps are nothing more than window dressing Rents across the country are out of control with rents in Dublin now 50pc more than the Celtic Tiger peak, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Last year, rents across the country increased by an average of more than 10pc. Meanwhile, 20 […]

The cuckoos have come home roost – because the government incentivised them to come here Cuckoo funds outbidding ordinary buyers for family homes by up to 32pc is a direct consequence of government policy, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Young workers and families don’t stand a chance when they try to buy […]