News

Full scrutiny of the millions wasted by the Arts Council on a failed IT project must be a priority for the incoming Public Accounts Committee (PAC), according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s arts spokesperson, said: “It has emerged today that €7 million was spent by the Arts Council […]

The Minister for Health must urgently address the chronic shortage of public health nurses to prevent the widespread cancellation of routine developmental checks for babies and small children, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “It is scandalous that parents across many parts of the […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for a special Oireachtas committee to be set up to examine the Government’s inadequate response to Storm Éowyn. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “The Government has insisted it will learn from mistakes made in the wake of last month’s devastating storm – but there […]

Calls by the Taoiseach for more incentives for private investment in the rental sector show this Government is prepared to double down on years of failed housing policy, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Fianna Fáil claims it is the party of home ownership and […]

It is utterly shameful that people feel the need to sleep in their cars overnight to have any chance of buying a new home, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who represents Kildare North, said: “More than a dozen first-time buyers slept in their cars last night in the hope of securing […]

As a matter of urgency, we now need the former housing minister, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to appear in the Dáil to answer questions about this fiasco There is a desperate blame game in government to evade responsibility for misleading the public about the number of homes that would be delivered last year, according […]

Today’s introduction of reduced speed limits on rural roads, while welcome, will be less effective without increased Garda visibility and enforcement, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s transport spokesperson, said: “Given the unacceptable rate of tragedies on our roads, I am fully supportive of the strategy to reduce […]

A review of the hot school meals scheme must be carried out to assess the nutritional standard of food being served to children, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “While the planned expansion of this initiative is welcome, concerns have been expressed by some teachers […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called on the Government to provide urgent financial supports to the horticulture sector in the wake of Storm Éowyn. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s agriculture spokesperson, said: “Given the importance of our horticulture sector, it is unacceptable that there has been no real discussion about how it has […]

The cost of repairs to the electricity network in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn should not be passed on to customers under any circumstances, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “For the thousands of customers still waiting to have their power restored – almost […]