News

There is nothing affordable about a home that costs nearly half a million euro The government is more interested in providing a subsidy to developers than making homes genuinely affordable, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan was reacting to media reports that the government has set a price cap of up […]

Two years ago a vulture fund described Ireland as “the gift that keeps on giving” The block purchase of 135 homes in a new development in Kildare is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to investment funds hoovering up housing supply, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesman Cian O’Callaghan. “The same REIT […]

Last week in one day, in one town, one vulture fund bought up three times more homes than the government’s affordable scheme is going to deliver this year – across the entire country. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien’s Affordable Housing Scheme shows Fianna Fáil is incapable of learning the lessons of history – the scheme is […]

The Social Democrats have accused the Government of attempting to railroad the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) through the Dáil without adequate pre-legislative scrutiny. Holly Cairns TD, who is the party’s spokesperson for the Marine, said: “The time allocated for a debate on this topic tomorrow is wholly inadequate to address the myriad of issues […]

Cuckoo funds are swooping in and block buying new estates The threatened eviction of children with special needs from an apartment complex in Dublin is a shameful indictment of the government’s failed housing policy, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. “The government lifted the ban on evictions today knowing the chaos it would cause. Currently, there […]

Responding to Minister Darragh O’Brien’s announcement that the Homelessness Taskforce is meeting to discuss the formation of a new Youth Homelessness Strategy, Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said: “A target must be set for the elimination of youth homelessness and for every effort to be made to ensure that the strategy meets the needs […]

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called on the Minister for Housing to explain the absence of independent market rent valuations for multi-million euro leases the State has entered into with developers for the provision of social housing. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “Records released to me under the Freedom of […]

Commenting on figures from Daft.ie showing that house prices jumped an average of €20,000 in the last year, Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD said: “The jump in house prices over the last year is a further setback to families and individuals struggling to buy a home. It is crucially important that the Government […]

Commenting on figures released today by the Department of Housing, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has called for immediate action to reduce the numbers of people becoming homeless. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The figures released today by the Department of Housing show that at the end of February there were […]

The Social Democrats have made a submission to the Commission on the Defence Forces, describing it as an opportunity to evolve Ireland’s current defence and security framework so it can meet future challenges. Cian O’Callaghan TD, the party’s spokesperson for Defence, said: “Our primary recommendation is for the Commission to develop and adopt a comprehensive […]