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The Social Democrats have accused the government of hiding behind private property rights in the Constitution to avoid tackling the unprecedented housing crisis with the radical measures that are required. The comments come ahead of the party’s ‘think-in’ in Dublin today hosted by co-leaders Catherine Murphy TD and Róisín Shortall TD. Today’s event will explore […]

The impact of homelessness on school age children living in emergency accommodation should be examined by the Ombudsman for Children, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy made the call as the new school term begins and thousands of homeless children are traveling to school from emergency accommodation including hotels and B&Bs. […]

The government’s own target for building social housing has entered the realm of make-believe, with the admission today by the head of the State’s Housing Agency that a key deadline will not be met, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD has said. Deputy Murphy made her comments following remarks by Mr John O’Connor in an […]

Soaring rent costs and the chronic lack of rental properties around the country are putting enormous economic and emotional pressures on families and individuals, Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon said today. Reacting to today’s Daft.ie report, Cllr Gannon said: “Skyrocketing rents and the chronic shortage of rental accommodation around the country is having a massive […]

The government’s abject failure to deliver so-called ‘rapid-build’ homes shows just how desperately we need a dedicated Housing Delivery Agency, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said today. Deputy Murphy said: “It’s farcical for the government to talk about ‘rapid-build’ homes when only 22 out of 1,500 pledged modular units have been completed so far. It’s […]

The government is failing thousands of tenants facing spiralling costs by refusing to act to cut stamp duty on rents above €2,500 a month, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said today. Deputy Murphy said figures published today show that some 55 per cent of three-bedroom Dublin city homes currently up for rent through online property […]

Today’s Summer Economic Statement is another squandered opportunity by the government to deal with the enormous pressures facing our economy and society, the Social Democrats said today. The party’s co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said the setting up of a Rainy Day Fund at a time the housing, health and childcare needs of so many people […]

The Minister for Housing is sitting on a major fire safety review completed over a year ago while today announcing a separate review in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze, the Social Democrats said today. Dublin Bay North Councillor Cian O’Callaghan said: “Mr Murphy is saying that the Grenfell Tower fire is going to […]

A new State agency needs to be set up to oversee the faster delivery of thousands of new homes, the Social Democrats said today. The call comes as information obtained by the party’s co-leader Catherine Murphy TD shows that only four staff are working in the Housing Delivery Office set up last August in the […]

The new Minister for Housing must extend emergency rent assistance measures nationwide to prevent homelessness caused by rising rents, the Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said today. Deputy Murphy made her comments as the latest figures show that private sector rents grew by 7.37 per cent across the country in the past year. The […]