News

A Social Democrats’ motion calling on Dublin City Council to recognise housing as a fundamental human right will be debated by councillors on Monday. The motion, tabled by Cllr Lesley Byrne, outlines a number of actions the council must take to enshrine this principle in all its housing policies and actions. It sets out the […]

The overwhelming demand for so-called ‘affordable’ apartments and houses at the former O’Devaney Gardens flats complex in Dublin highlights the desperation of a generation locked out of home ownership, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Over 1,000 people have applied to buy 99 affordable homes […]

The publication of the latest homelessness figures today represents the worst possible start to 2026 for those at the sharp edge of the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “Another grim record has been set for homelessness under Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael. Today […]

The Minister for Housing’s Christmas gift to all of those in housing precarity is to once again mislead the public on housing delivery figures, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “During the first nine months of 2025, 3,134 new-build social homes were provided by the State – this figure is […]

The scrapping of the plan to introduce a cap on the value of homes eligible for the State’s vacant property grant is a backwards step in affordable housing provision, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The government has failed to cap the value of homes that are eligible for the […]

The sheer level of housing need in Ireland far exceeds what the government’s housing plan is delivering, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The latest report on housing need from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) shows that the government is not delivering an acceptable level of housing – it estimates […]

The government’s new housing plan contains no measures to improve transparency in the property market, resulting in higher prices and more obstacles for people trying to buy a home, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “A study carried out by Myhome.ie and Bank of Ireland […]

Government decisions are a core barrier to the development of the infrastructure essential for housing provision, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “The Government is trying to ignore that it has been decades of underinvestment, poor delivery, management and planning by successive Fianna Fail and Fine Gael governments that has […]

The government is continuing to ignore proposals that would deliver homes in favour of the same old doomed policies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “One year ago, on the day of General Election 2024, the number of people in emergency accommodation was 14,996. That figure today is 16,766. “Shockingly, […]

The government’s new tenancy rules have created massive uncertainty in the rental market and resulted in a tsunami of evictions, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows that rents are continuing to rise while the number […]