Social Democrats Meath West

12/12/2024

Statement from Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary party this morning.

“At a meeting of the Social Democrats parliamentary party this morning, a decision was taken to continue talks with the four parties we have already engaged with – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Labour.

“Earlier, during the meeting, I and the other members of our negotiation team – Jennifer Whitmore and Gary Gannon – updated the parliamentary party on those meetings.

“We reported that the meetings had been positive and constructive with a good exchange of views.

“These talks have been exploratory to date but I expect that next week they will become more focused – particularly on the dealbreakers we highlighted during the election campaign.

“Those dealbreakers were the delivery of 50,000 genuinely affordable homes during the lifetime of the next government; the full implementation of Sláintecare; quality public childcare; a senior minister for disability and credible climate action to avoid up to €20 billion in EU fines.

“In continuing these talks, the Social Democrats are delivering on a commitment we gave to the electorate to talk to every party after the election with a view to forming a government and delivering on our mandate.”

12 December, 2024

Ends

For further information please contact:
Colette Browne
Communications Director
Email: [email protected]

14/11/2024

A vote for Fine Gael is a vote for the architects of the housing disaster

Former Fine Gael Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy’s confession that Fine Gael chose not to prioritise the housing disaster is a damning indictment of their shameful record on housing, according to Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan.

“In an interview in the Business Post today, Mr Murphy states Fine Gael “didn’t escalate housing to priority number one – because we didn’t want to”.

“He further states the party “wasn’t radical enough’; his colleagues didn’t have “the time or energy to help” him and he was left waiting for six months when important legislation had to drafted.

“Mr Murphy’s assessment of his own, and his party’s, failures is both searingly honest and incredibly stark. While he may have pushed for stronger, more urgent action, he wilted at the first sign of opposition from a party that didn’t really seem to care very much about the deteriorating housing disaster.

“Fine Gael refused point blank to treat housing like an emergency – and that was back in 2016. Now, eight years later, we are dealing with an unmitigated disaster that has ruined tens of thousands lives all over the country. Much of that damage could have been avoided if the right decisions were made back then.

“Mr Murphy’s admission, that Fine Gael didn’t prioritise housing and took the wrong policy approach, highlights what is at stake in this election. A vote for Fine Gael is a vote for the architects of the housing disaster.”

13 November, 2024

Ends

For further information please contact:
Colette Browne
Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Mob: 086 0625476

13/11/2024

There is an arrogance in the government parties thinking they have this election sewn up

The Social Democrats have today launched their general election campaign with party leader Holly Cairns TD outlining the party’s dealbreakers for entering government.

Speaking at the event, Cairns said:

“The first thing I want to be clear about today – is that the Social Democrats want to go into government. Not to make up the numbers, or get jobs for the girls, but to make a difference.

“As the leader of the Social Democrats, which values straight talking and clear positions, I want to be very transparent with people about the policies that are dealbreakers for us in any government formation talks.

“The delivery of 50,000 affordable purchase homes over the lifetime of the next government is essential. Housing needs a radical reset and central to that must be affordability. If the Social Democrats are in government, people on average incomes will once again be able to aspire to home ownership.

“The full implementation of Sláintecare is another non-negotiable. What we currently have is slow motion Sláintecare – and it is resulting in unacceptable waiting lists and high costs for individuals and families.

“Appointing a full cabinet minister for disability is critical for the Social Democrats. Under successive governments, disability services have gotten worse, not better. I believe this is due to a lack of political will. In any government which includes the Social Democrats, disabled people will have a strong advocate at the cabinet table fighting for resources and improved services.

“We want to see the roll out of a public model of childcare, to ensure affordable childcare is accessible and affordable, and we have a plan to start that on day one.

“We will also insist that a credible Climate Action plan is published, which actually adds up to a 51% reduction in emissions, to meet our climate targets – and save us €8 billion in EU fines.

“The government is spinning a story of success at the moment, but a lot of people out there feel disconnected from that. We have full employment but half a million adults living in their childhood bedrooms; record budget surpluses, but threadbare disability services.

“None of the problems we face as a country - in housing, in healthcare, in disability services, or any area – are inevitable. They are the product of political choices made at the cabinet table. This election is a choice about who sits at that table.

“There is an arrogance in the government parties thinking they have this election sewn up. They are already talking about the ministerial offices they want to take and when they want to be Taoiseach. They’re taking voters for granted.

“I am asking people to trust us with their vote and give us the largest possible mandate so we can enter government, work hard and improve the lives of everyone in the country.”

Cllr. Ronan Moore

11/09/2024

Congratulations Cllr. Ronan Moore

If you want change, vote for it

Social Democrats

🟣 CANDIDATE SELECTED 🟣

Congratulations to who has been selected as our Meath West candidate for the General Election!

17/07/2024

Political spin isn’t putting a roof over anyone’s head

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:

“House prices increased by 8.2 per cent in the 12 months to May 2024. The median price of a home is now €335,000, rising to a staggering €450,000 in Dublin.

“The number of homes purchased also decreased by 9.9 per cent in just one year.

“Behind these statistics lie the human cost of the housing crisis, where homeownership is just a pipe dream for the many people struggling to pay exorbitant rents or stuck living in their childhood bedrooms well into their 30s.

“These utterly unaffordable house prices are locking a generation out of homeownership and forcing many to consider a life abroad in order to start an independent life.

“We clearly do not need any more evidence to show that this Government is not up to the job.

“House prices, rents and homelessness have all consistently skyrocketed since 2020.

“This Government is clearly out of ideas as the clock is ticking on the next general election.

“In the meantime, the Minister for Housing should act decisively and implement the recommendations of the Housing Commission report.

“More political spin on housing is not going to put a roof over anyone’s head. Talk of ‘progress made’ and ‘corners turned’ isn’t going to cut it for the people who are suffering the effects of the housing crisis.

“This Government’s time is up – an election can’t come soon enough.”

ENDS
July 17, 2024

16/07/2024

The intimidation of asylum seekers desperately seeking accommodation is becoming far too common

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has strongly condemned today’s violence in Coolock.

“There is no place in society for the type of despicable criminal behaviour we witnessed today on Dublin’s northside.

“Again, we have seen hysteria, fear and hatred whipped up over proposed accommodation for asylum seekers, leading to attacks on gardai and workers, as well as damage to vehicles and property.

"This type of intimidation towards migrant communities is becoming increasingly common. Such threatening behaviour has a chilling effect on those desperately seeking international protection in this country.

“The sight of hooded and masked rioters on the streets of our capital is an affront to democracy and must be met with a robust response by the authorities.

“While we should always respect the right to peaceful protest, this is not what occurred in Coolock today.

“My thoughts are with the gardai, workers and law-abiding local residents caught up in this afternoon's appalling events."

ENDS
July 15, 2024

For further information please contact:
Tony McCullagh
Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
Mob: 087 3377900

16/07/2024

Minister for looks set to miss his targets again in his final year in office

Today’s release of delivery statistics for social and affordable homes show that this Government is incapable of meeting its targets – targets that were not nearly ambitious enough in the first place, according to Social Democrats Cian O'Callaghan T.D.

Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said:

“Just 158 social homes were built in Quarter 1 of this year. This is a drop in the ocean of what is needed and clearly not on track to meet the 2024 target of 9,300 homes.

“The delivery of affordable purchase and cost rental housing is not looking much better. Just 32 affordable purchase homes and 24 cost rental homes were built in Quarter 1 of 2024 – a long way off this year’s target of 6,400 new build affordable homes.

“These figures provide further evidence that this Government, its rotating cast of Taoisigh and its Minister for Housing are incapable of delivering homes at the scale that is needed.

“There are a number of measures the Government could and should be using to speed up delivery. These include using Compulsory Purchase Orders to acquire development land; providing early-stage finance to Approved Housing Bodies to get projects off the ground; and introducing a specific zoning for affordable housing.

“When these solutions are put to the Government, they are dismissed out of hand and voted down.

“The glacial pace of social and affordable housing delivery is locking a generation out of housing.

“A general election, a new Government and a new housing plan is now the only way of turning the tide on this crisis.”

ENDS
July 16, 2024

For further information please contact:
Tony McCullagh
Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
Mob: 087 3377900

08/01/2024

06/09/2023

24/07/2023

www.checktheregister.ie.

06/07/2023

The first time I met we were speaking immediately after each other at a SocDem conference ahead of the local elections. Holly spoke on farming, I think I spoke on climate.

Fast forward 5 years later and councillor to TD to our party leader, Holly is still fighting the good fight representing rural and urban Ireland.

Great to catch up with her again this morning & hoping she gets to enjoy a well-earned rest later in the summer.