General Election Manifesto 2024

Elections are about the future; the kind of country we want to live in, and the kind of society we want our children to grow up in. The Social Democrats want a future where every person can thrive, and every community can flourish.

That future starts with getting the basics right: affordable housing, accessible childcare, healthcare when you need it, a clean environment and properly funded disability services. Underpinning everything must be a commitment to accountability, honest politics and value for money. For the Social Democrats, these aren’t just buzzwords – they are core principles.

A government has to work for the people, and spend people’s money as carefully as if it were their own. Too often this government throws money at a problem and asks questions later. That’s why we are getting the most expensive children’s hospital in the world and vanity projects around the Dáil when they can’t even get the basics right.

The current government are epic wasters: wasting money, wasting time, wasting a generational opportunity to invest in a better future. This has to stop! This election is your chance to stop the waste, to move the dial, to choose a new approach.

The Social Democrats are a party that is unequivocal about prioritising quality and accessible public services over populist gimmicks and giveaways. We want to play a pivotal part in the next government. We want to be in government to make a difference, not just to make up the numbers. We are not interested in ‘jobs for the boys’ – we want to do the job right!

It’s time to do things differently.

The Social Democrats will only join a government that:

1.     Builds 50,000 affordable purchase homes.
2.     Fully implements Sláintecare.
3.     Agrees a plan to reach our climate targets and avoid €8 billion in fines.
4.     Appoints a full cabinet Minister for Disability.
5.     Builds high quality public childcare.

Find Out More

You can read more about our policies and plans in our General Election Manifesto, linked below.