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An analysis of Budget 2025 by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) provides further evidence that the Government have prioritised electoral gain over lifting vulnerable groups out of poverty, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Despite the headline grabbing short-term measures announced on Tuesday, the ESRI has warned that poverty among the […]

Today’s revelations that private fee-paying schools will be allowed to apply for a slice of the €9 million budget allocation to purchase mobile phone pouches have added new levels of farce to the controversy, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s spokesperson on education, said: “Spending €9 million in […]

Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan has strongly criticised unacceptably long waiting lists for orthodontic treatments for children under the age of 16 in the Mid-West region. Cllr O’Donovan, who is the party’s general election candidate in Limerick city, said: “Figures I received from the HSE are deeply concerning. There are currently 676 young people on […]

Lessons must be learnt from Irish Rail’s shambolic handling of recent timetable changes to DART and Northern Commuter services, according to Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins. Cllr Hopkins, who is the party’s general election candidate in Dublin Fingal East, said: “Today’s announcement by Iarnród Éireann that it has decided to scrap recent timetable changes will […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has urged the Government to establish a dedicated wildlife crime unit within An Garda Síochána. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on biodiversity, said: “A report published today by the Journal Investigates shines disturbing new light on the extent of Ireland’s underground wildlife trade. Detailing unspeakable acts of cruelty, […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has expressed frustration at the Minister for Children’s refusal to commit to a physical survey and possible excavation of the Bessborough mother and baby home grounds in Cork. “This is the possible burial place of hundreds of unaccounted for children who died at this notorious institution, which operated as a […]

The €9 million allocated in the budget for the purchase of mobile phone pouches for schools has been described by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon as a scandalous waste of money. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “With schools around the country struggling to pay their bills or for basic classroom materials […]

Today’s budget is a giveaway on steroids that is bad for the public and bad for the State, according to Social Democrats finance spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Budget 2025 has just one overriding purpose – self-preservation of the Government parties. “It bears all the hallmarks of a Bertie Budget – hardly surprising when you consider that […]

A derisory 5 per cent increase in stamp duty on bulk purchases will continue to facilitate investment funds snapping up homes at the expense of first-time buyers, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan. “Budget 2025 was a golden opportunity to begin the radical change that is needed to fix the housing crisis. Instead, […]

The Government’s disastrous handling of housing has resulted in house prices increasing by nearly 40 per cent since it took office, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “According to the latest figures published by Daft.ie, asking prices for homes across the country rose by 3.1 […]