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The government must get tough on vacancy and dereliction in next month’s Budget, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “New figures from the CSO show there was a fall in vacant dwellings from 76,457 at the end of 2022 to 72,245 in 2023. “However, if you consider there were officially […]

The government’s failure to adequately support the Approved Housing Body (AHB) sector is creating unnecessary blockages in the delivery of social and affordable homes, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The Taoiseach and Minister for Housing have talked about creating certainty and stability in housing […]

The continued downward trend in house commencement notices has been described by Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne as another ominous sign that the government won’t come anywhere close to reaching its 40,000 new homes target for 2025. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Every other day seems to bring further bad news […]

Latest estimates from the Central Bank show that the government will struggle to come anywhere close to reaching its housing delivery targets over the next five years, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “In its latest quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank has revised its house […]

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 […]