Social Democrats Dublin City Councillors will oppose the City Budget on Monday as it would have a disproportionate impact on the city’s most vulnerable renters, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne.
Deputy Hearne said:
“There is a deficit in local authority funding, especially when measured against the long list of responsibilities, projects and costs that DCC is expected to deliver on – its level of funding is not sufficient for both current expenditure and capital projects.
“Last year, DCC accrued €110 million in rent payments, well exceeded by its total spend of €180 million administering and maintaining the 29,000 or so homes it owns in the city – this is a clear gap that must be closed via additional revenue if DCC is to deliver on its commitments to provide effective maintenance, complete capital projects, turn around voids in a timely manner, and expand its current provision of services to empower direct delivery of housing.
“There’s no denying the housing and cost of living crises that are plaguing communities across the country – Dublin City is no exception – and many of those in local authority tenancies find themselves in an extremely vulnerable position.
“If DCC rents are raised and it becomes unaffordable for tenants to remain in situ, looking to the private market provides no respite – raising council rents will directly result in more families being driven into homelessness, with almost half of those who rent from local authorities at risk of poverty after paying their current rate.
“Those in receipt of the Housing Assistant Payment are also in a precarious position as they themselves are paying sky-high private rents – in many cases, the HAP is not enough to keep tenants from falling into poverty.
“The solution to this problem will not be found in raising rents, but by ensuring that levies and taxes due to DCC are recouped, and by creating new funding streams that don’t risk evicting vulnerable tenants – over €115 million euro can be made available annually through fairer, untapped revenue sources.
“As of June 2025, DCC is owed €10 million in unpaid derelict site levies, and a further €93 million in unpaid section 48 developer contribution fees, a figure that has increased by 60% in the last five years.
“A tourist tax on Airbnbs and hotels has the capacity to raise €12 million, and despite not being included in the Programme for Government, it is supported by 65% of Dubliners.
“Progressive measures like these and the recouping of taxes and levies already due to DCC would create a funding stream to tackle the local authority’s deficit without raising rents and placing tenants in housing precarity – this is the only viable approach.
“Concurrently, lifting the €118 million national borrowing cap for local authorities to help transform vacant council properties into livable homes would go a long way for those in need of housing – it is clear that this cap is unsuitable if local authorities are to meaningfully contribute to tackling the housing crisis.
“DCC must pursue a more equitable, sustainable funding strategy via these channels, which should include a revised and progressive rent model that incorporates safeguards and genuine engagement with tenants.”
November 21st, 2025