News

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has slammed reports of third level students having to endure shocking living conditions in seriously overcrowded accommodation. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “I am appalled at revelations that postgraduate students attending Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Limerick have been crammed […]

The rental crisis is going from bad to worse thanks to failed government housing policy and lack of protections for tenants, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) reveal the true scale of the rental disaster, which […]

Confirmation today that there are now more than 5,000 children living in homeless emergency accommodation is a national scandal and a dark day for Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Today’s figures show there were 16,058 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end […]

The latest rent figures published today show that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policy failures have resulted in a social and economic disaster, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “According to the latest analysis by daft.ie, the average open market rent nationwide is now over […]

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 […]