News

Empowering Youth As part of the next government, the Social Democrats will have a focus on delivering better outcomes and brighter futures for young people in Ireland. Our policies will increase funding for services for young people in areas like youth work, education, mental health, sport and recreation, and transport, and also take measures to […]

Positive Neutrality Since the foundation of the state Ireland has always engaged in a positive and committed manner in global affairs while remaining proudly militarily neutral. This neutrality is a platform on which our relatively unique position in the world has been built and is a source of strength and legitimacy.  It has helped us […]

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: […]

Education The education of our children is the bedrock of our country’s future; economically, socially and culturally. All the research suggests that well-targeted investment in education is paid back many times over, with children and young people with high quality educational experiences having better life outcomes and employment prospects. Ireland has a strong track record […]

Strengthening Renters’ Rights Ireland is in the unique position of simultaneously having some of the highest rents in Europe but some of the worst protections for renters. The Social Democrats will take immediate action to both bring down the cost of rents and provide security for renters. You can read more about our plans by […]

Domestic, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) is a serious problem in Ireland. One in four women in this country are affected by domestic violence in their lifetime, while half of all women report experiencing sexual violence at some point. Increased public awareness in recent years and the publication of the […]

A Plan for Dublin City Dublin has not been a priority for the current government. Under their watch, Dublin city is decaying, and it has been in decline for years. From increased anti-social behaviour and filthy streets to chronic vacancy and dereliction, our capital city has been neglected. A range of urgent measures to tackle […]

Digital Policy, Online Safety, and AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents many opportunities, but also many policy challenges. AI has the power to make our lives more convenient, our work faster and more efficient, and to bring huge benefits. But technological progress of this kind also brings with it huge challenges, including around labour displacement, which […]

Childcare and Early Years The Social Democrats have a clear goal to establish a public model of early childhood education and care (ECEC), and a pathway to achieve it. Overseen by a National Childcare Agency, this would have the triple benefit of guaranteeing quality early years education and care for children, affordability for parents, and […]

Affordable Housing It shouldn’t be as hard as it is now to afford a home of your own. The Social Democrats have a plan to bring homeownership back within reach. By working on a not-for-profit basis, significantly increasing public funding for affordable housing, and building on state-owned land, local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) […]