News

Landlords are leaving the rental market in their droves, with 43,000 properties lost in five years The mass exodus of landlords from the rental market further highlights the urgent need for regulation of short-term letting platforms, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on Housing, said: “Reports today […]

The Department of Children cannot adopt a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to the refugee crisis Children with additional needs living in emergency accommodation should not be moved at short notice, according to Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore. “Today, some 200 Ukrainian refugees are being moved from the Clondalkin hotel they have lived in […]

Thousands of local authority homes lie empty as the number of people in emergency accommodation reaches another grim record The latest record homelessness figures further highlight the Government’s laissez-faire approach to tackling the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “With Christmas now just […]

Figures show Government’s housing plan is an abject failure The latest Daft report paints a grim picture of Ireland’s rental market and is further proof that the Government’s housing plan has failed, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The latest Daft report is a stark […]

Action, not vague promises of future housing delivery, is urgently needed  The Housing For All action plan update and Q3 progress report published today show that the Government is falling far behind on its delivery targets for social and affordable homes, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing […]

The latest homelessness figures are a shocking indictment of the Government’s failure to deliver social and affordable homes The latest homelessness figures highlight the Government’s failure to deliver on social and affordable housing, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “Figures released today show the highest […]

The problems in An Bord Pleanála extend much further than allegations concerning just one board member A new report into further planning issues at An Bord Pleanála must be published in full and identify those involved in breaches of procedure, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was commenting after the Irish […]

We need answers about how much this mess is likely to cost taxpayers  The chaos engulfing An Bord Pleanála is costing the State dearly as fees for delays and legal challenges soar, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “Today, the Irish Independent reported An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has paid out more than €1 million […]

There appears to be chaos in Minister O’Gorman’s Department The Children’s Minister must explain why 135 Ukrainian refugees were put through the anxiety and stress of being told their lives were being uprooted – only for the decision to be reversed at the last moment, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “A group […]

Fingal County Council has been instructed to run an apprenticeship scheme to improve the number of badly needed skilled tradespeople in the county. The scheme was proposed in a motion in the name of Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins, who was unanimously supported by her fellow council members at their most recent meeting. Cllr Hopkins […]

Criticism of ABP should not allow this government, and previous governments, to escape censure for this debacle The upbeat appraisal of An Bord Pleanála to a devastating critique from the Office of the Planning Regulator is bizarre and concerning, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The report from the Office of the Planning […]

This deal typifies everything that is wrong with the government’s approach to housing The government must explain why State resources are being used to bankroll developments for investment funds, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan commented after it was revealed that Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) is financing the construction of […]

Alarming growth in the number of people homeless requires an emergency response The latest homelessness figures released today demand no less than an emergency response from the Government, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The latest figures reveal that there are now 3,220 children homeless […]

New measure will encourage dereliction The new Vacant Homes Tax has been set far too low, according to the Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Commenting on Budget 2023, Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The new Vacant Homes Tax is too weak to work. This tax must be set at a much higher rate to bring vacant […]