News

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has called on the Government to immediately publish the Dublin city centre taskforce report and clarify if funding has been ringfenced for its implementation in next week’s Budget. Deputy Gannon, who represents Dublin Central, said: “After years of dithering, the Government finally established a special taskforce for the inner city […]

The Minister for Health must immediately clarify if and when he became aware of a confidential report, which raises serious questions about the HSE’s readiness to commission and operate the National Children’s Hospital, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “While the Minister has been extremely keen to foist all the blame on developer […]

A multi-agency approach is needed to remove or remediate thousands of man-made barriers to fish migration in Ireland’s rivers, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on biodiversity, said: “What is happening across Ireland’s network of rivers and streams is nothing less than an ecological tragedy. “Man-made barriers […]

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 […]

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 […]

Significant investment in greener public transport and renewable energy will be key if Ireland wants to meet challenging World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on climate and energy, said: “The latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that […]

The fingerprints of three health ministers, and two Taoisigh, are all over this disaster – Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris and Stephen Donnelly The government is attempting to foist all blame for the ongoing fiasco with the National Children’s Hospital on developer BAM in an effort to evade responsibility for successive government’s mishandling of this critical […]