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Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore today attended an event to announce details of the Affordable Ireland Campaign’s cost-of-living demonstration march, which will take place in Dublin city centre on February 28. The campaign is backed by the Social Democrats and other Opposition parties, and includes various trade unions, students’ organisations, the Irish Traveller Movement and […]

The government’s dilution of short-term rental restrictions is a slap in the face for renters, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The changes to regulations, that were agreed by coalition leaders last night on short-term lets, will now restrict new rules to towns with populations of more than 20,000 – […]

Yesterday’s Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll shows that there is a clamour for genuine change in housing policy among voters, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “When almost two thirds of all voters believe that the government’s tenure is only causing the housing crisis to spiral further out of control, you […]

The Social Democrats today launched a new proposal for the creation of a State Construction Company that would deliver homes at the scale required to solve Ireland’s deepening housing crisis. Under the party’s proposal, a State Construction Company would operate alongside existing market delivery of housing, playing a significant role in providing more affordable and […]

Today’s homeless numbers are a result of a government which has deprioritised housing to a degree which is causing severe harm to thousands of people, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s figures show there were 16,734 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of December. Shockingly, over […]

Today’s confirmation of house completion figures for 2025 by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) highlights the real reason why the government abandoned setting annual targets, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “With just 36,284 homes delivered last year – which falls significantly short of what’s […]

The government must not introduce disastrous rental measures which will allow landlords to increase rents between tenancies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “There’s huge concern and fear among renters that the rental measures discussed at Cabinet today will lead to higher rents – every expert at the Oireachtas Housing […]

Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne has described the increase in the number of older adults falling into homelessness as a ticking timebomb for the State. Deputy Hearne was responding to today’s publication of a report by the Simon Communities of Ireland examining older people’s experiences of homelessness. He said: “This report highlights significant gaps […]

We will never solve the housing crisis as long as the government keeps rolling out the red carpet for international investor funds, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, made his comments after it was confirmed that Ireland is to take part in a major international property […]

A Social Democrats’ motion calling on Dublin City Council to recognise housing as a fundamental human right was carried last night. The motion, tabled by Cllr Lesley Byrne, outlined a number of actions the council must take to enshrine this principle in all its housing policies and actions. Speaking on the matter, Social Democrats housing […]