News

A Social Democrats private members’ bill to increase unpaid leave entitlements for working parents is due to complete its passage through the Oireachtas in the coming weeks. “For parents with pre-school children in particular, unpaid parental leave might be a more economical alternative to paying for formal childcare.” A Social Democrats private members’ bill to […]

The Social Democrats Spokeswoman for Children, Cllr Jennifer Whitmore, today supported the call for an independent evaluation of family hubs, saying housing authorities are desensitised to the devastating impact of homelessness on children and families. “Today’s report by the Ombudsman for Children includes testimonies from children about life in family hubs that are utterly heart-breaking. […]

Social Democrats Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has called on Iarnród Éireann to offer refunds to Wicklow rail commuters in recognition of the service disruptions to passengers over the coming week. Cllr Whitmore said: “Major service disruptions on the Greystones DART line are set to continue over the coming week as a result of fire damage which […]

The Social Democrats have welcomed the passage today at committee stage of our Bill to increase to six months the amount of unpaid parental leave available to working parents of children aged up to 12. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 aims to help working families enjoy better work-life balance by permitting parents to spend […]

A Social Democrats’ private members’ bill to enable working parents to spend more time caring for their children goes to committee stage tomorrow, Wednesday 16th May. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2017 allows parents to take a total of six months (26 weeks) unpaid leave from their jobs without their employment rights being affected. This […]

Social Democrats’ Wicklow candidate Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has urged local authorities in areas at risk of flooding to carry out assessments and be proactive with timely advice and practical supports to local businesses and residents. Cllr Whitmore said: “There’s a real risk that, because the main focus is on the current snow storm, that we […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children, Councillor Jennifer Whitmore, has criticised the Department of Education’s advice to schools’ boards of management this morning as ‘too little, too late’. Greystones Councillor Whitmore said: “At 5.50a.m. this morning, Met Éireann issued a Status Red weather warning for snow and ice in Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Wicklow and Meath. “However, […]

Social Democrats Cllr Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the launch of a Neighbourhood Watch in Charlesland Park. Whitmore said “The residents of Charlesland have worked together for the past eighteen months to improve the security of their estate. It began with the setting up of “WhatsApp” groups where residents from each street could contact each other […]

ASK ANY WORKING parent whether they’d be happy to take unpaid leave from their job to spend more time with their children, and the response is usually an enthusiastic ‘yes – if I could afford it!’ The reality is that with the high cost of childcare, the option of one parent – let’s face it […]

The Department of Education must intervene to allow students and teachers from Coláiste Ráithín in Bray to move into their new school building which has been delayed by the Carillion collapse, Social Democrats’ councillor Jennifer Whitmore said today. Local Cllr Whitmore said: “I attended a meeting last night at which teachers, parents and students from […]