News

Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins has welcomed today’s plan to professionalise the role of Special Needs Assistants, but notes that this is long overdue. Deputy Cummins said: “The new Workforce Development Plan and revised SNA contract announced today are the culmination of years of essential work by SNAs and intense negotiations by Forsa. “While […]

The Government’s new maximum fee cap for childcare services operating under the core funding model is a derisory reduction that will make little difference to hard-pressed families, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “Under the new maximum fee cap announced today by Children’s Minister […]

Government cop-out ignores previous political precedent of international game being cancelled  The government cannot continue to hide behind the FAI when it comes to its position on the Israel-Ireland game, according to Social Democrats sports spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “Speaking on RTÉ today, Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue said it was […]

We cannot allow a genocidal Israeli state to launder its reputation through sportswashing The Social Democrats are bringing forward a Dáil motion demanding the government withdraw its support for the forthcoming Ireland-Israel soccer match, according to Social Democrats sports spokesperson Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney said: “Not only is the Israeli state committing a genocide in […]

Record-high homelessness has resulted from record-high evictions, all of which can be traced back to disastrous Government housing policies, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “Today’s figures show there were a record 17,548 people living in homeless emergency accommodation at the end of April. Shockingly, 5,604 of them are children, […]

Electric Ireland’s announcement of imminent price increases for its electricity and gas customers will come as a further blow to struggling households across the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Electric Ireland customers are set to be hit with price increases of 8 per […]

It’s never been clearer that the Government is writing housing policy to appease corporate landlords and investor funds, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne said: “This morning’s statement from IRES, the State’s largest corporate landlord, makes for sickening reading. The REIT’s brazen profiteering against the backdrop of over 17,000 people in […]

Schools should not be insisting on students wearing expensive branded uniforms in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “There have been fresh warnings from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) about the burden placed on parents having to buy expensive branded uniforms from […]

It’s shocking that social media companies are allowed to accept payments from criminals to run bogus advertisements on their channels to defraud the Irish public, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “FraudSmart, the fraud awareness initiative led by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, has reported that there has been […]

There must be full accountability – and consequences – after it was revealed that diesel from an Irish Rail fuel facility has been leaking into the River Liffey for over a year, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s environment spokesperson, said: “This week, the Journal reported that the […]