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The Taoiseach’s forcible defence of his comments that ‘things are not that bad’ while more than 3,000 children face into a Christmas in emergency accommodation means we are no longer dealing with reality but with propaganda, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said tonight. Speaking during a Dáil debate on a private members’ bill, Deputy […]

The playing down of our homelessness crisis by the Taoiseach and the chair of the Housing Agency is an insult to every adult and child living in emergency accommodation today, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy said: “Recent remarks by the Taoiseach and the chair of the Housing Agency seek to […]

Special measures are needed to help young couples with children who bought apartments during the boom and now find themselves ‘stuck’ in unsuitable accommodation and unable to purchase family-sized homes, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy said: “People, including many young couples, who bought small apartments during the boom, are now […]

Rents in Dublin are so shockingly high that many working people are denying themselves basics so they can meet their monthly payments, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy was commenting on new figures from estate agent Sherry FitzGerald which show that renters in Dublin are spending up to 55 per cent […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has described Budget 2018 as a Budget of squandered opportunities in so many ways but in particular on addressing the housing emergency. She said there are lots of carrots but very few sticks, for example the Vacant Land Levy announced is still less than land price inflation. Deputy Murphy […]

The government’s inability to accurately count the number of new houses built each year is masking the true scale of the housing shortage, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD was commenting on a Goodbody BER housebuilding tracker published today, which shows that 5,377 houses were completed in 2016. This compares […]

Government spin cannot mask the stark reality of its failure to get to grips with the homeless crisis, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today – as new figures show the number of homeless families and adults continues to rise. Deputy Murphy was commenting on Department of Housing figures which show that a total […]

The housing crisis will not be solved until the obstacle presented by the constitutional provision on private property is amended, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said today. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, Deputy Shortall called on the Taoiseach to commit to holding a referendum on Article 43 of the constitution as a […]

Today’s designation of Greystones and Drogheda as rent pressure zones is a relief to people renting in those areas – but what is actually needed is a pegging of rent increases to the Consumer Price Index, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD, said: “The fact that Greystones and Drogheda are […]

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has described the government’s latest proposals to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis as lacking in ambition and radical thinking. Deputy Murphy made her comments as an emergency Housing Summit, hosted by Minister Eoghan Murphy and attended by the chief executives of local authorities, concluded this evening. Deputy Murphy […]

The Social Democrats have accused the government of hiding behind private property rights in the Constitution to avoid tackling the unprecedented housing crisis with the radical measures that are required. The comments come ahead of the party’s ‘think-in’ in Dublin today hosted by co-leaders Catherine Murphy TD and Róisín Shortall TD. Today’s event will explore […]

The impact of homelessness on school age children living in emergency accommodation should be examined by the Ombudsman for Children, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy made the call as the new school term begins and thousands of homeless children are traveling to school from emergency accommodation including hotels and B&Bs. […]

The government’s own target for building social housing has entered the realm of make-believe, with the admission today by the head of the State’s Housing Agency that a key deadline will not be met, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy made her comments following remarks by Mr John O’Connor in an […]

Soaring rent costs and the chronic lack of rental properties around the country are putting enormous economic and emotional pressures on families and individuals, Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon said today. Reacting to today’s Daft.ie report, Cllr Gannon said: “Skyrocketing rents and the chronic shortage of rental accommodation around the country is having a massive […]