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Just 7% of new apartments being sold to individuals and families

A report published by the Department of Finance highlights the extent to which investment funds are hoovering up new apartments, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Last year, just 846 apartments were purchased by individuals and families, while 6,203 were bought up by investment funds […]

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Affordable housing delivery continues at a glacial pace in first half of 2024

Today’s release of affordable housing completions shows that this Government is incapable of meeting its targets – targets that were not nearly ambitious enough in the first place, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Just 166 affordable purchase homes have been delivered in the first […]

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Government’s tokenistic stamp duty increase gives investment funds the green light to bulk buy homes

A derisory 5 per cent increase in stamp duty on bulk purchases will continue to facilitate investment funds snapping up homes at the expense of first-time buyers, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Budget 2025 was a golden opportunity to begin the radical change that is needed to fix the housing crisis. Instead, […]

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Indictment of Government as house prices increase nearly 40%

The Government’s disastrous handling of housing has resulted in house prices increasing by nearly 40 per cent since it took office, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “According to the latest figures published by Daft.ie, asking prices for homes across the country rose by 3.1 […]

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Government is out of ideas and out of time as homelessness record is broken again

The latest homelessness figures show the tragic consequences of 13 years of Fine Gael-led governments, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s spokesperson on housing, said: “There are now 14,486 people living in homeless emergency accommodation – the highest ever recorded in the history of the State. “Shockingly, 4,419 […]

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Empty Ryanair properties in Swords add insult to injury

Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins has expressed concern after it was reported that a majority of homes bulk purchased in a Swords housing estate by Ryanair earlier this year remain vacant. Cllr Hopkins, who is the party’s general election candidate in Dublin Fingal East, said: “Last January, people were shocked when it emerged that the […]

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Homebuyers are now paying on average 10 per cent above the asking price

There is an urgent need to properly regulate the bidding process to protect first-time buyers, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Bank of Ireland have reported that the average homebuyer is now paying 10 per cent above the asking price. This is incredibly disheartening for […]

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Urgently needed social homes sitting empty for well over a year

While it’s clear we need to increase housing delivery, it’s also vital that we maximise the use of existing properties, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The annual report into the performance of local authorities published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) paints […]

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House prices increase by nearly 10 per cent in one year

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that rising house prices are locking a generation out of homeownership, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “The price of a home has increased by 9.6 per cent in just one year. “The median price for […]

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