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The chronic shortage of properties available within Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits will lead to a spiral of homelessness, Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne has warned. Deputy Hearne said: “The latest ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the Simon Communities of Ireland makes for grim reading. It shows that, in September, there was […]

The coalition’s actions, or lack thereof, indicate that it’s out of ideas when it comes to tackling the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The government’s revised housing plan was to be published in July – in June, the Taoiseach said it had been pushed out until September, […]

The government has splashed the cash to the tune of half a billion euro in order to provide tax cuts for multi-millionaire investor funds and developers, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Heane said: “Those in need of affordable homes – renters, generations stuck in their childhood bedrooms, and working families – […]

The government must act on the recommendations of a new report which found that using more standardised housing designs and modern methods of construction could slash homebuilding costs by up to an eighth, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The conclusions of this study, commissioned […]

The Developer Profit Transparency Bill 2025, if passed, would unpack the reasons why housing delivery is stunted in Ireland, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The aim of the bill is to shed light on the profit levels of developers who benefit from government housing schemes and subsidies – it’s […]

Today’s record homeless numbers are another shameful milestone and an indictment of this government, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne made his comments as a new record high for homelessness was confirmed this afternoon: “Today’s figures show there were 16,353 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of August. […]

More tax breaks for developers in Budget 2026 is not the solution to the housing crisis and risks repeating mistakes of the past, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “It has been reported today that the government will reduce VAT in the Budget for new […]

The government must get tough on vacancy and dereliction in next month’s Budget, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “New figures from the CSO show there was a fall in vacant dwellings from 76,457 at the end of 2022 to 72,245 in 2023. “However, if you consider there were officially […]

The government’s failure to adequately support the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector is creating unnecessary blockages in the delivery of social and affordable homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The Taoiseach and Minister for Housing have talked about creating certainty and stability in housing […]

The continued downward trend in house commencement notices has been described by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne as another ominous sign that the government won’t come anywhere close to reaching its 40,000 new homes target for 2025. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Every other day seems to bring further bad news […]