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Skyrocketing property prices continue to be the main barrier to owning a home in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The latest national Residential Property Price Index, published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), recorded a 9.7 per cent increase in the 12 […]

The HSE must explain why it is sitting on more than 200 vacant properties in the middle of a housing crisis, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “With almost 15,000 people – including over 4,600 children – set to wake up on Christmas Day […]

Statement from Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary party this morning. “At a meeting of the Social Democrats parliamentary party this morning, a decision was taken to continue talks with the four parties we have already engaged with – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Labour. “Earlier, […]

Predictions that house completions for 2024 will be lower than last year prove that the outgoing government’s already unambitious targets were never going to be achieved, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. “A forecast by EY-Euroconstruct estimates that just 32,000 new houses will be built this year – almost 700 fewer than in […]

Thousands of lives are being devastated by the ongoing homelessness crisis, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “When this government was formed in June 2020, there were 8,699 people in homeless emergency accommodation, 2,653 of them children. “There are now 14,966 people living in homeless emergency accommodation. “Shockingly, 4,645 of these are children […]

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien should immediately publish the latest homelessness figures Comments made by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in relation to homelessness figures have been described as tone deaf by Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “During an interview on Virgin Media News, Mr Martin said he hoped to see homelessness figures coming down […]

We cannot afford to re-elect the outgoing government if we want to meaningfully tackle the crises in housing, health, childcare and disability services, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. “Since this campaign began, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been acting as if they had the election all sewn up. However, their arrogance […]

Statement from Soc Dems deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan on Simon Harris’ attack, in today’s Irish Times, on the Soc Dems’ tax plan. “Simon Harris is clutching at straws and is clearly struggling to explain how Fine Gael can propose large tax cuts and massive spending increases during this election campaign. “This is an especially difficult […]

The legacy of this government will be a broken, dysfunctional housing system Confirmation that house prices are continuing their relentless increase is a further reminder of what’s at stake in this general election, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan. “The CSO has today confirmed that we are continuing to see double digit increases […]

The Social Democrats today published their general election manifesto. The party’s deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said: “The Civil War parties are now the Phoney War parties. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are trying to derail this election by engaging in relentless bickering. “This focus on petty rivalry suits the outgoing coalition partners – because instead […]