News

The accommodation crisis is placing an intolerable financial burden on students and preventing full immersion in college life, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “For so many students due to receive their Leaving Certificate results this week, the joy of securing […]

The student accommodation sector is in need of urgent reform, with students undergoing disproportionate hardship just to find somewhere to live, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Student accommodation has gotten so expensive that some colleges’ student unions, such as UCD’s, have felt compelled to start a food bank for […]

Government plans to instruct local authorities to double the amount of land zoned for housing will not guarantee the delivery of new homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Guidelines being brought to Cabinet today will require councils around the country to collectively zone enough […]

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 15,915 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of July. […]

Throwing billions of euros at the housing crisis without announcing a radical reset in policy will result in the same shortcomings successive governments have been defined by, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “While an increase in funding is required to deliver the level of housing Ireland needs, the primary […]

There is no excuse for the decay and deterioration many social housing estates are suffering from across the country, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. “Structural defects, mould, damp and a lack of basic maintenance is crippling the quality of social housing across the country, the impact of which is causing serious health […]

Instead of kowtowing to developers and investment funds, the government needs a radical reset of housing policy The Housing Minister is continuing to cook the books when it comes to this government’s record on the delivery of affordable homes, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. “The Housing Minister is continuing to try to […]

This is a scheme which would leverage some of the €163 billion which is sitting in Irish deposit accounts to fund the delivery of thousands of affordable homes. Deputy Hearne said: “This government has a singular focus – design housing policy that will benefit developers and investment funds. “In fact, the only measures taken by […]

What we have is a back-to-the-future housing minister, repeating the mistakes of the past, who is doomed to fail The Housing Minister’s big idea to increase housing supply is to dust off housing policies implemented by his predecessors that have demonstrably failed, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. “Today the Minister has announced […]

Raising student contribution fees by €1,000 per year amidst a cost of living crisis will make a college education more inaccessible for some students and families, according to Social Democrats further and higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “This proposal comes as students and families across the country are already grappling with unprecedented […]