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The government must clarify if planned restrictions on short-term lets will apply to towns located in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) where populations are under the 10,000 threshold provided for in the new regulations, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Under the Short-Term Letting and […]

The sky-high cost of new homes on the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Poolbeg, Dublin 4, will make it difficult, if not impossible, for agreement to be reached on the provision of affordable homes in the scheme, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “It […]

The overwhelming demand for 30 affordable homes in a south Dublin housing scheme highlights the desperation felt by house-hunters, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The pent-up demand for housing saw 640 applications received for just 30 affordable homes at Woodbrook in Shankill, a scheme […]

Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne has today written to Minister James Browne to express concern over the proposed appointment of Brendan McDonagh as the government’s new housing tsar. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In my letter, I reminded the Minister that Mr McDonagh’s main role in NAMA was overseeing the fire […]

The removal of rent caps and cuts to the tenant-in-situ scheme will contribute to rising levels of homelessness, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, made his comments as a new record high for homelessness was confirmed this afternoon. “Today’s figures show there were 15,418 people living in […]

Figures published today for the total number of social and affordable homes delivered last year confirm that the State has failed to turn a corner on the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The government may attempt to dress up its 2024 figures […]

The dwindling number of properties available within Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits shows that the government’s ongoing reliance on the private rental market is not a sustainable model, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest quarterly ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the […]

We cannot allow skyrocketing property prices to continue locking tens of thousands of people out of homeownership, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest national Residential Property Price Index, published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), recorded an eight per cent increase in […]

The Social Democrats will this week propose the setting up of a new State savings scheme to fund the accelerated delivery of affordable homes. Deputy Rory Hearne, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Under our proposal, the government would establish a Homes for Ireland Savings Account, similar to the Livret A model in […]

The Minister for Housing needs to take responsibility for delivering critical water infrastructure for new homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In the Dáil today, I called on the Minister to make an emergency intervention to ensure that Uisce Éireann delivers the water and […]