News

Transport One of the starkest differences between Ireland and other European countries is our poor public transport system. Under successive Irish Governments, one abandoned or delayed public transport plan has followed another. Transport policy has focused on moving cars, not moving people. Our Transport policy is informed by the core tradition of social democracy; ensuring […]

Older People The Social Democrats want to build a society where we can all feel confident about our futures as we grow older, and we are proposing a number of measures to make this goal a reality. Over the coming decades, the make-up of Ireland’s population will change considerably. We often talk about the needs […]

Rural Development Balanced regional development is crucial to living standards not just in rural Ireland, or in towns and villages around the country. It would also contribute to improved living standards in cities, which already face significant infrastructural challenges in areas like housing, transport, and other service provision. Unbalanced economic growth hinders Ireland’s overall potential […]

Mental Health Mental healthcare in Ireland is a piecemeal system that allows many to fall through the cracks. Primary, secondary and specialised care varies greatly across the country, and emergency supports for people in crisis are not fit for purpose. Mental health services in Ireland have long suffered from chronic underinvestment, and people with a […]

Workers’ Rights Strengthening workers’ rights is fundamental to social democratic politics. The Social Democrats are focused on empowering workers through supporting the growth of trade unions and improving workers’ rights legislation. In recent decades the world of work has been transformed. All too often these changes have had a negative impact on workers in Ireland. Union […]

Defence & Security Since the foundation of the modern Irish State in 1922, the Irish Defence Forces worked to secure our national territory, and conducted mandated peacekeeping missions abroad; a contribution of which we are rightly proud as a nation. Today, the defence and security challenges facing Ireland are becoming more complex and diverse, and […]

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 […]