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This deal typifies everything that is wrong with the government’s approach to housing The government must explain why State resources are being used to bankroll developments for investment funds, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan commented after it was revealed that Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) is financing the construction of […]

Alarming growth in the number of people homeless requires an emergency response The latest homelessness figures released today demand no less than an emergency response from the Government, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The latest figures reveal that there are now 3,220 children homeless […]

New measure will encourage dereliction The new Vacant Homes Tax has been set far too low, according to the Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Commenting on Budget 2023, Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The new Vacant Homes Tax is too weak to work. This tax must be set at a much higher rate to bring vacant […]

Rent Pressure Zones must be extended nationwide The proposed tax credit for renters in today’s budget will be gobbled up by landlords through rent increases, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on Housing, said: “Without properly enforced nationwide rent controls, the tax credit for renters will simply […]

Government needs to urgently address underlying causes of crisis The Government has missed key targets in the delivery of social, affordable and cost rental homes due to its failure to address the underlying causes of the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on Housing, said: […]

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is failing to meet any of the targets on delivering affordable homes while house prices and rents are at record highs A punitive 10% tax on vacancy and dereliction should be introduced and a levy imposed on investment funds, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was commenting […]

Public confidence in planning system must be restored Further questions surrounding the workings of An Bord Pleanála require urgent answers from the Office of the Planning Regulator, the chair of the board and the Minister for Housing, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, the party’s spokesperson on Housing, said: “It is lamentable […]

Capital spending on housing down 21 percent on this time last year Confirmation from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) that property prices have risen above their Celtic Tiger peak further highlights the scale of Ireland’s worsening housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, the party’s spokesperson on Housing, said: “The national […]

When it comes to housing, the Government is completely out of touch. The Government talks about ending homelessness by 2030, but they have no plan, no strategy and no milestones Record levels of homelessness further prove that the Government’s housing plan has failed, according to the Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Figures released by […]

The Farrell report must be published as quickly as possible It is neither tenable nor appropriate for An Bord Pleanála to investigate itself in relation to allegations that are in the public domain but not included the Farrell report, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “I am very concerned that the Housing Minister […]