News

The failure to resolve the housing crisis will have catastrophic consequences for entire generations of young people Ireland’s housing crisis is creating a poverty time bomb due to the soaring numbers of people who will be forced to continue to pay rent long after they retire, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy […]

We need to make primary and secondary school education genuinely free An increase in the number of families struggling to pay back-to-school costs underscores the depths of the cost-of-living crisis, according to Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon was responding to a new study from the Irish League of Credit Unions which found […]

A Social Democrats’ motion – to introduce a €20 ‘Cost of Disability’ payment and increase Disability Allowance by at least €15 – will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow  The government must commit to introducing a Cost of Disability payment in the forthcoming budget, according to Social Democrats Disability Spokesperson Holly Cairns. “The cost of […]

The government’s approach is to watch people fall into further debt and poverty before it is willing to act  The Summer Economic Statement shows the government can act and introduce an emergency budget now, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The summer economic statement has again confirmed that the government has the capacity […]

This Wednesday, 6th July, 2022, the Social Democrats are using their limited ‘Private Members’ Dáil time to put forward a motion for urgent action on disability. The sheer scale of inequality and injustice faced by disabled people, and families of children with special needs and disabilities, is disgraceful.  A lack of school places, under-staffed HSE teams, […]

The cost-of-living crisis is now an emergency, but the government is callously refusing to act. It is essential that the government introduces an emergency budget given inflation is now running at nearly 10pc, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Inflation is now running at nearly 10pc. Price increases are becoming embedded across the […]

The Government must put in place the necessary funding to progress a vital local disability service for Swords and North County Dublin, according to Social Democrats Fingal Councillor Paul Mulville.  “The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) has plans to develop a purpose built day building providing services for adults and children with disabilities, on North Street, […]

The Back To School allowance was higher in 2007 than it is now The government must act to provide relief for parents who spend up to €1,500 on back-to-school costs for each child, according to Social Democrats Children’s Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. “Last year, a survey from the Irish League of Credit Unions revealed that 24% […]

It is now  just days before schools close for the summer – and 106 children are still without a class for next year Minister for Special Education Josepha Madigan must clarify if she misrepresented the position of four schools she claimed had not engaged with the Department about special education classes, according to Social Democrats […]

Mr Reid has joined the exodus of senior health officials who have also recently announced their resignations The abrupt resignation of HSE chief executive Paul Reid raises serious questions for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “In the first instance, I would like to wish Mr Reid well in […]