News

This week’s report outlining Tusla’s catastrophic shortcomings when complying with court directions affecting hundreds of children paints a picture of an organisation in dire need of a complete overhaul, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, the party’s Children spokesperson, said: “This week’s decision of a judicial inquiry into Tusla’s failure to act […]

The Taoiseach must keep his promise to correct employment and governance structures for School Completion Programme (SCP) staff, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s Education spokesperson, said: “Today’s ESRI report, the second of its kind, has been welcomed by School Completion Programme (SCP) workers around the country – […]

Government must urgently address the severe shortage of special school places across the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins, ahead of today’s protest. Deputy Cummins, the party’s’ spokesperson for Education, said: “I stand in solidarity with the parents and guardians participating in today’s 24-hour sleep-out protest outside the Department of Education.  “They aim […]

The deepening crisis in public dentistry requires urgent action from government, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s Health spokesperson, said: “No family should be told that their child will face a decade-long wait for treatment to stop debilitating pain. “The fact that Tiernan Murphy-Power, a six-year-old with autism, […]

The National Children’s Hospital debacle looks set to continue well into the term of the new government, with no certainty over how much it will eventually cost or when it will open to young patients, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said: “We learned today […]

The outgoing government has serious questions to answer following the resignation of the interim chief executive of CHI, which could result in further delays to the opening of the National Children’s Hospital, according to Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats. Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “I am deeply concerned at reports […]

The Social Democrats today published a range of proposals to support families, including improved paid leave arrangements for parents; a right to flexible work options; and building a public model of early childhood care and education. The policy will be launched by children’s spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore and Cllr Jen Cummins, the party’s general election candidate […]

The latest report from the Child Law Project paints a disturbing picture of how children in the care system are being failed by the State, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “The project’s latest analysis of child care proceedings makes for grim reading. It […]

The Social Democrats have outlined how, in government, they would begin the process of building a public model of early childhood education and care. The party’s Early Years Care and Education policy was launched today by Jennifer Whitmore TD, spokesperson on children, and Cllr Jen Cummins, the Social Democrats’ Dublin South-Central general election candidate. Deputy […]

Welcoming An Bord Pleanála’s decision to refuse planning permission for an apartment scheme at the former Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has repeated her call for a sensitive excavation of the grounds of the estate, which is widely believed to be a children’s burial ground. “The latest refusal […]