News

It is not lack of money that is preventing the State building the homes we need – it is catastrophic mismanagement by the Minister  Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan says it is disappointing but not surprising that the Government has yet again failed to meet its targets for the delivery of social and affordable homes. […]

Increased tax rate of 10% is needed to encourage owners of empty homes to sell or rent their properties  The Social Democrats will bring a Private Members’ Motion before the Dáil this Wednesday, April 19, calling for the introduction of an effective Vacant Homes Tax to help increase the supply of properties to rent or […]

This huge increase in the number of people facing into homelessness is unprecedented The latest report from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows there will be a tsunami of evictions in the coming months, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The RTB report states that 4,329 notices-to-quit were served to tenants between October […]

Report paints a particularly bleak picture for households reliant on the Housing Assistance Payment  The latest ‘Locked Out of the Market’ report from the Simon Communities of Ireland further highlights why the Government needs to extend the eviction ban, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: […]

Nobody who pays their rent on time should live in constant fear of homelessness Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan will today introduce his Tenancy Protection Bill 2023, which aims to put a stop to mass evictions. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “My Tenancy Protection Bill 2023 is about protecting people from […]

Under-resourcing of planning appeals board is hampering the delivery of new homes Ireland’s planning system must be properly resourced to speed up the delivery of badly needed homes, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “In the midst of our worst-ever housing crisis, it is difficult […]

Record house prices, and a chronically poor supply of homes, are the perfect breeding conditions for gazumping to thrive New legislation is required to outlaw the practice of gazumping, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Today, there are media reports of a vendor backing out of agreements with seven home buyers, who were […]

We cannot have a situation in which children are growing up in hotels and tourists are holidaying in homes The Government must begin a crackdown on the short-term letting sector now – it can’t wait for another year for a new registration system to be agreed by the EU, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson […]

If the Government fails to act, we will see devastating outcomes for people facing eviction The latest figures from the Residential Tenancies Board paint a deeply worrying picture of what’s to come now that the Government has lifted the ban on evictions, according to Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The report showed that 4,741 […]

Emergency response by Government needed to tackle crisis The latest homelessness figures underline the need for an extension of the eviction ban, along with other measures to protect tenants, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “There are now 11,754 people living in homeless emergency accommodation […]