News

Fingal County Council has been instructed to run an apprenticeship scheme to improve the number of badly needed skilled tradespeople in the county. The scheme was proposed in a motion in the name of Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins, who was unanimously supported by her fellow council members at their most recent meeting. Cllr Hopkins […]

This government has serious questions to answer about their mismanagement of the grid Ireland’s power supply crisis is much worse than previously thought meaning the risk of blackouts and brownouts this winter has increased, according to Social Democrats Climate Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was commenting after the publication of Eirgrid’s Generation Capacity Statement today. […]

Early intervention vital to prevent psychiatric inpatient admissions The alarming rise in psychiatric inpatient admissions for children and adolescents presenting with eating disorders requires an immediate Government response, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns made her comments after figures from the Health Research Board’s (HRB) National Psychiatric Inpatient Reporting System revealed that […]

Minister can no longer be a spectator to Junior Cert fiasco  The ongoing delay in issuing results for the Junior Certificate shows blatant disrespect towards the thousands of students who sat their exams in June, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on Education, said: “The students who […]

Criticism of ABP should not allow this government, and previous governments, to escape censure for this debacle The upbeat appraisal of An Bord Pleanála to a devastating critique from the Office of the Planning Regulator is bizarre and concerning, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “The report from the Office of the Planning […]

This deal typifies everything that is wrong with the government’s approach to housing The government must explain why State resources are being used to bankroll developments for investment funds, according to Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan commented after it was revealed that Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) is financing the construction of […]

Why is the Minister continuing to give experts and patient advocates the cold shoulder?  The Minister for Health must explain why he’s ignored repeated calls to fund the Mater’s Long Covid Clinic, according to Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The Mater’s clinic is the longest running Long Covid clinic in Ireland and yet it’s […]

Alarming growth in the number of people homeless requires an emergency response The latest homelessness figures released today demand no less than an emergency response from the Government, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The latest figures reveal that there are now 3,220 children homeless […]

Bulk of €124 million in unclaimed prize money spent on advertising and promotion, according to report Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy has welcomed recommendations contained in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of the Public Services for 2021 relating to oversight of the National Lottery’s finances. Deputy Murphy, who is vice-chair of […]

Increased funding for sector flies in the face of public opinion  The Government has failed to listen to animal welfare organisations by yet again increasing funding for the greyhound racing industry in this week’s budget, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns. Deputy Cairns, who is the party’s spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, […]