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The Social Democrats are urging councillors on South Dublin County Council to vote against increases to social housing rents this week. The issue of rent increases has been pushed to a vote at a specially convened meeting this Thursday (June 25) by the Social Democrats, Sinn Féin and People Before Profit. The parties have used […]

The Government must act on the recommendations of a cross-party report on homelessness and introduce an emergency no-fault eviction ban, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s report from the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage offers important solutions for how the State should respond to homelessness. “The […]

The Social Democrats launched the party’s Renters’ Charter in Galway today. The charter, which sets out 10 actions to deliver secure, affordable homes for renters, was launched by Galway West by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich, and Rory Hearne TD, the party’s housing spokesperson. Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich said: “After Dublin, Galway city is the second most […]

Residential Tenancy Board figures confirm evictions in Ireland rose to their highest levels since the famine ahead of the introduction of new rental laws, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Minister for Housing James Browne and his Government were warned that these rental laws would cause evictions to skyrocket, increasing […]

The Government’s ‘beds in sheds’ plan going before Cabinet today is a recipe for exploitation and substandard accommodation, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Hiding a generation in back gardens is not a solution to our housing crisis. There are so many flaws in this half-baked plan that it’s difficult […]

The increased prevalence of multi-person room share arrangements operating under licence agreements risks dragging the country back to the dark days of the tenements, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The Journal reported today that one former office building in Dublin city centre has been converted into a residential property […]

It is highly inappropriate that the Minister for Housing is attending an international property conference in France this week aimed at enticing more vulture funds to Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “It is extremely disappointing that the Minister did not heed my call […]

The emergence of leaked video footage today makes a nonsense of claims by the Minister for Housing that eviction notices issued to tenants in 36 properties in Wexford last week were not related to the government’s new rent regulations, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “In the leaked video, the landlord’s […]

Figures released today by housing charity Threshold provide further proof that the government was wrong to proceed with the introduction of its disastrous new rent regulations this week, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Threshold’s final quarter figures for 2025 show a 21 per cent […]

The issuing of eviction notices to 36 separate households in Wexford by just one landlord is indicative of the huge crisis in the rental sector as the government ploughs ahead with measures that will make the situation even worse, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “For months now, I have […]