Category: Housing
How can Government stand over lifting the eviction ban?
Record breaking number of people living in homelessness Labour leader and housing spokesperson Ivana Bacik has demanded a reintroduction of the eviction ban following the release today of figures showing that a shocking and record breaking number – 12,259 people – are now living in homelessness. Deputy Bacik said: “Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the…
Read more »Housing crisis having huge impact on rise in domestic violence cases
Labour justice spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said today (Friday 9th December) the housing crisis is having a huge impact on people trying to escape domestic violence situations. Commenting on the 9% increase in reported incidents of domestic abuse to Gardaí in 2022, Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “It is encouraging that more people have the…
Read more »Third highest levels of homelessness in a row
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said local authorities must be empowered by government to protect anyone else from falling into homelessness this winter. With homelessness up 29.5%, Senator Moynihan said it’s time for government to take radical action to deal with the housing disaster. Senator Moynihan said: “It’s a national disgrace that almost 11,000 people…
Read more »Lack of clarity on renters tax credit remains
Taoiseach unable to answer questions regarding licensees Raising the operation of the renters tax credit with An Taoiseach today, Labour Leader Ivana Bacik called for clarity as to who qualifies for the benefit. Deputy Bacik said people who have renting on the basis of a licence rather than a standard tenancy are none the wiser…
Read more »Delivery of 578 homes in St. Michael’s Estate will be transformative for people in Inchicore-Kilmainham area, says Labour Councillor
The delivery of 578 public homes in St. Michael’s Estate will be transformative for people in Dublin 8, said Labour Councillor Darragh Moriarty. Welcoming the formal lodging of planning for the regeneration of St. Michael’s Estate, Cllr Moriarty said projects like St. Michael’s will be vital in giving people an opportunity to live in their…
Read more »Government must protect social housing providers from interest rate hikes
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said building homes cannot be a casualty of rising interest rates. With Housing for All failing to hit any of its markers, Senator Moynihan said government must take serious measures to build homes this year. Senator Moynihan said: “Government must insulate social housing providers from interest rate hikes. With the…
Read more »Budget must address escalating student accommodation crisis
Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Senator Annie Hoey has today (Monday 5th September) said that the escalating student accommodation crisis and the soaring cost-of-living for students must be addressed in Budget 2023. Speaking following the publication of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) pre-budget submission, Senator Hoey said: “The student accommodation crisis…
Read more »Record homelessness stats show Housing for All is failing
Eviction ban must be introduced immediately Local authorities need power to protect people at risk Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has said that new record levels of homelessness announced today (Friday, 26th August) clearly demonstrate that the Government’s Housing for All plan is rapidly failing fast. With now 10,568…
Read more »DOUBLE ECB RATE HIKE A BODY BLOW FOR HARD PRESSED HOUSEHOLDS
Mortgage interest rate cap needed now Responding to reports that the European Central Bank (ECB) will soon hike its lending rates twice by the end of the year, Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash said the Government has no option but to support Labour’s legislation to cap mortgage interest rates in Ireland. Deputy Nash said: “People…
Read more »Government must prevent ‘summer of discontent’ across community sector
The Government should immediately engage with trade unions representing workers in the care and community sector following the announcement of industrial action across the sector, beginning next month, according to Labour spokesperson on health and disability, Duncan Smith. “At the weekend SIPTU members in the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) announced that they would conduct a…
Read more »30% year on year increase in homelessness – private rental market protections needed
Labour housing spokesperson said the 30% increase in homelessness in the past year is deeply concerning. Calling for the implementation of an emergency eviction ban and a rent freeze, Senator Moynihan said every step must be taken to stop people entering homelessness from the private rental market. Senator Moynihan said: “The lack of affordable homes…
Read more »Time to end blanket ban on pets in rented accommodation
Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill would end restrictions on renters Marking Dog Friendly Ireland Day, Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called for a ban on landlords prohibiting pets in rented accommodation. Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill would end this blanket ban on pets which would enable renters to make their house their home. Senator Moynihan said:…
Read more »Enough is enough – emergency eviction ban needed
HAP limits must be revised Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said the number of people living in homeless is a shameful inditement of government housing policy. With a record number of young people living in homessless, Senator Moynihan said without proper protections for people in the private rental market, Ireland will continue to experience record…
Read more »Urgent action to combat prospect of rising interest rates needed now says Nash
Labour finance spokesperson, Ged Nash has today (Tuesday, 26th April) said a real plan to combat an imminent and sharp rise in variable mortgage interest rates is urgently needed to assist up to 450,000 homeowners. His call comes amid growing speculation that the European Central Bank will increase interest rates before the end of 2022….
Read more »ESRI report points to need for time-limited targeted measures for rental market
Labour committed to three year rent freeze Time for entire country to be declared RPZ for limited period Govt must increase cost rental supply Responding to the ESRI report published this morning, Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called for a series of time limited rent stabilisations and controls to ease the rental crisis. Senator…
Read more »Prospect of eviction from Richmond Road studios must be wake up call for Government and Dublin City Council
Labour Party Arts spokesperson Senator Marie Sherlock, Deputy Lord Mayor Joe Costello and Dublin City Councillors Jane Horgan Jones and Declan Meenagh have called on the Government and Dublin City Council to step up supports for artistic workspaces amid eviction threats against a successful, not-for-profit arts studio in North Dublin City. Speaking in the Seanad…
Read more »Every household must be offered best possible deal on their Electricity and Gas
– Energy Minister must call on CRU to act to protect consumers – Labour Bill would tackle the ‘loyalty penalty’ Raising with the Minister for Energy the soaring prices for electricity and gas, Labour Enterprise spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin called on Minister Ryan to meet with the regulator and ensure every household is offered the…
Read more »State intervention needed in nationwide housing crisis
With ordinary people continuing to be priced out of buying a home, Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called for targeted state intervention to bridge the affordability gap in the housing market. Senator Moynihan said government must commit to increasing state investment in direct build housing to balance the housing market as the state is…
Read more »Government must commit to increasing local authority inspectors
Private Residential Tenancies register must be amended Following the publication of research from Threshold showing the availability of more shortterm lets than long-term in key urban areas, Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called on government to increase local authority inspectors to end the practice of landlords circumventing the planning permission rules. Senator Moynihan said:…
Read more »Government housing strategy continues to lock people out of home ownership
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called on government to deliver more affordable cost rental properties for people squeezed by the housing market. With residential property prices growing by 14.8% in the year to January, Senator Moynihan said the lack of urgency from the Minister to redress the imbalance in the market is deeply concerning….
Read more »Eviction notice figures are deeply worrying
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said government must urgently implement Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill to end the practice of landlords evicting tenants when selling properties. Responding to figures released by the Rental Tenancies Board, Senator Moynihan said renters in the private market need much better protections. Senator Moynihan said: “Labour has long campaigned for better…
Read more »Child First strategy needed to tackle homelessness
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has expressed deep concern at the monthly homeless report for December 2021 published today. Senator Moynihan said: “There were 1,077 families in emergency accommodation in December and while this represents a slight decrease, it is clear that more needs to be done to prevent people reaching homelessness in the first…
Read more »Empowering local authorities to tackle housing crisis must be backed up with vacant home tax
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has welcomed the news that the Department of Housing will encourage local authorities to scale up their use of compulsory purchase orders to tackle dereliction. Senator Moynihan said this move must be backed up with a robust vacant property tax. Senator Moynihan said: “Earlier this month it was reported that…
Read more »Rent freeze needed until more homes come into supply
Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan said with Ireland’s rents now at the upper end of housing cost figures in Europe, government must implement a rent freeze until more homes come into supply. In a ferocious market where renters continue to feel the pain of poor government policy, Senator Moynihan said there are structural changes that…
Read more »