The Social Democrats pledged to put availability and affordability centre stage at the launch of their housing policy today.<\/p>\n
The policy was launched in Marino, Dublin, by housing spokesperson Cian O\u2019Callaghan and general election candidates Cllr Jen Cummins (Dublin South-Central) and Ross O\u2019Mullane (Dublin South-West).<\/p>\n
The document outlines how the Social Democrats, in government, would oversee the building of 303,000 new homes between 2026 and 2030. This includes a commitment to deliver an average of 29,000 affordable rental, affordable purchase, and social homes every year.<\/p>\n
The party wants to eradicate homelessness through an ambitious \u2018Housing First\u2019 strategy and introduce protections for renters, including a ban on no-fault evictions.<\/p>\n
Other measures include an effective ban on the bulk purchase of houses and apartments; the creation of a specific zoning for affordable housing; an end to lucrative long-term leasing deals for social housing provision; the use of compulsory purchase orders to acquire land for housing; and a clampdown on illegal short-term lets to increase the availability of homes to rent.<\/p>\n
The Social Democrats would also hold a referendum to put the right to a home in the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Cian O\u2019Callaghan said:<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past four years, the Government has managed to turn a housing crisis into a housing disaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cRents are at record levels, house prices are at record levels and homelessness is at record levels, while there are over half a million adults stuck living in their childhood bedrooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, it doesn\u2019t have to be this way. Today, the Social Democrats launched an alternative housing plan that puts availability, affordability and sustainability at its core.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ross O\u2019Mullane said:<\/p>\n
\u201cToo often, statistics can mask the human stories. In recent weeks I\u2019ve spoken to hundreds of people in Dublin South-West who are affected in different ways by the housing crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are living in unprecedented times where young people are simply priced out of the market and cannot afford to live independent lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to do things differently when it comes to housing, which is why people are ready for the type of change offered by the Social Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cllr Jen Cummins said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI live in the Tenters, originally known as Fairbrother\u2019s Field in Dublin\u2019s Liberties, which was one of the first public housing schemes built in the early years of the Irish State.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarino, where we are launching our policy today, was developed in 1924 and continues to be a vibrant, thriving community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult to understand how the State was able to build thousands of high-quality, affordable homes 100 years ago, when Ireland had far less resources than it does now. There is no reason why we cannot do the same today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the level of ambition needed to tackle the housing emergency. The Social Democrats have a fully costed plan to give people renewed hope of having a place to call home.\u201d<\/p>\n