News

Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne has today written to Minister James Browne to express concern over the proposed appointment of Brendan McDonagh as the government’s new housing tsar. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In my letter, I reminded the Minister that Mr McDonagh’s main role in NAMA was overseeing the fire […]

The removal of rent caps and cuts to the tenant-in-situ scheme will contribute to rising levels of homelessness, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, made his comments as a new record high for homelessness was confirmed this afternoon. “Today’s figures show there were 15,418 people living in […]

Figures published today for the total number of social and affordable homes delivered last year confirm that the State has failed to turn a corner on the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The government may attempt to dress up its 2024 figures […]

The dwindling number of properties available within Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits shows that the government’s ongoing reliance on the private rental market is not a sustainable model, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest quarterly ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the […]

We cannot allow skyrocketing property prices to continue locking tens of thousands of people out of homeownership, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest national Residential Property Price Index, published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), recorded an eight per cent increase in […]

The Social Democrats will this week propose the setting up of a new State savings scheme to fund the accelerated delivery of affordable homes. Deputy Rory Hearne, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Under our proposal, the government would establish a Homes for Ireland Savings Account, similar to the Livret A model in […]

The Minister for Housing needs to take responsibility for delivering critical water infrastructure for new homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In the Dáil today, I called on the Minister to make an emergency intervention to ensure that Uisce Éireann delivers the water and […]

Dire warnings that as few as 25,000 homes might only be delivered this year are further proof that the housing crisis is spiralling out of control, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “This government is following in the footsteps of its predecessor by coming out […]

The future of our housing market is at the mercy of international tariffs and trade wars due to the government’s over-reliance on institutional investors, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “Today’s MyHome report on the state of our housing market paints a stark picture of how the […]

The record numbers of people living in homeless emergency accommodation will have drawn little comfort from a lacklustre radio interview with Housing Minister James Browne this morning, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “To describe the Minister’s interview on RTÉ’s ‘Morning Ireland’ as uninspiring would […]