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Leaving school secretaries and caretakers out of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme is blatantly unfair, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “School secretaries and caretakers are just as important to schools as teachers and principals – without them, our education system would not be able to function. “Secretaries and […]

The government turning a blind to an increase in hate crimes has normalised these heinous actions in the eyes of their perpetrators, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “This rise in racially motivated attacks must not just be condemned in the strongest terms possible – it must be tackled head-on […]

The student accommodation sector is in need of urgent reform, with students undergoing disproportionate hardship just to find somewhere to live, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Student accommodation has gotten so expensive that some colleges’ student unions, such as UCD’s, have felt compelled to start a food bank for […]

The cruelty shown towards the people of Gaza by the Israeli government knows no bounds as the IDF is ordered to forcefully occupy the city, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Israel is being allowed to act with impunity in its destruction of Gaza and its people – now, […]

It’s a disgrace that hundreds of primary schools previously told they would begin providing hot school meals in September will now face delays, with the scheme postponed until mid to late October, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins said: “When were schools actually told this was happening? The lack of […]

Why has this government enabled large supermarkets to keep their profits secret? A review of the supermarket sector by the consumer regulator has detailed enormous price spikes in agri-food supply chains that must be investigated, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore said: “This report from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) […]

The findings of the latest Barnardos “Back to School” survey are deeply concerning, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “More than half of parents in Ireland are worried about the costs associated with returning to school, with many turning to savings, loans, and significant cutbacks in order to meet these […]

My experience as a youth worker tells me that young people engaged in criminal behaviour often don’t choose it Social Democrats children’s spokesperson Aidan Farrelly has strongly criticised the government following the publication of a Probation Service report that confirms there has been a 10 percent increase in child referrals to the service. Deputy Farrelly […]

The government must enact the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) without delay following today’s finding by the Foreign Affairs Committee that there is no legal impediment to including services, as well as goods, in the legislation, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The committee’s report, published today, clearly demonstrates that […]

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly has called on the Minister for Children to address concerns within the childcare sector relating to the core funding model. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, was commenting on reports today that a childcare provider had withdrawn a number of its Dublin-based services from the government’s funding […]