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The latest property prices published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) provide further damning evidence of failed housing policy by this and previous governments, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Prospective buyers are seeing the dream of homeownership evaporate before their eyes because of this […]

The government should adopt a Social Democrats’ proposal for a State savings scheme that would help finance the delivery of social and affordable homes, according to the party’s housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “On RTÉ’s ‘This Week’ programme yesterday, the Tánaiste revealed that the government is drawing up a strategy to help savers […]

The government must increase Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rates on an emergency basis to avoid a tsunami of homelessness, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the Simon Communities of Ireland will come as a further blow […]

The government’s Residential Tenancies Bill will push thousands more people into homelessness and make renting increasingly unviable, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The government’s intention to ram through this cruel and deeply flawed piece of legislation tonight represents a complete capitulation to large investor […]

The government’s dilution of short-term rental restrictions is a slap in the face for renters, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The changes to regulations, that were agreed by coalition leaders last night on short-term lets, will now restrict new rules to towns with populations of more than 20,000 – […]

Yesterday’s Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll shows that there is a clamour for genuine change in housing policy among voters, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “When almost two thirds of all voters believe that the government’s tenure is only causing the housing crisis to spiral further out of control, you […]

The Social Democrats today launched a new proposal for the creation of a State Construction Company that would deliver homes at the scale required to solve Ireland’s deepening housing crisis. Under the party’s proposal, a State Construction Company would operate alongside existing market delivery of housing, playing a significant role in providing more affordable and […]

Today’s homeless numbers are a result of a government which has deprioritised housing to a degree which is causing severe harm to thousands of people, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s figures show there were 16,734 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of December. Shockingly, over […]

Today’s confirmation of house completion figures for 2025 by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) highlights the real reason why the government abandoned setting annual targets, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “With just 36,284 homes delivered last year – which falls significantly short of what’s […]

The government must not introduce disastrous rental measures which will allow landlords to increase rents between tenancies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “There’s huge concern and fear among renters that the rental measures discussed at Cabinet today will lead to higher rents – every expert at the Oireachtas Housing […]