News

Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice has welcomed that Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) have finally been added to the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening, commonly known as the heel prick test. Deputy Rice, who chairs the Oireachtas Health Committee, said: “This is an incredibly important milestone for families impacted by SCID […]

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has today renewed his call on the Minister for Health to consider taking legal action against BAM to push the troubled National Children’s Hospital project over the line. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “At today’s Health Committee, it was confirmed that the 18th substantial completion deadline […]

The Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card makes clear that students and their families are still facing excessive pressure and insufficient supports, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins said: “The Report Card highlights ongoing concerns around school completion, pointing to the continued delay in publishing the Review of Out-of-School Education Provision, […]

Today’s dismal report card from the Children’s Right’s Alliance is an indictment of this government and reflects its failures during its first year, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “Last year, the government scored one ‘A’ grade and four ‘B’ grades, while this year it achieved no ‘A’ grades and […]

Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly has written to Minister for Children Norma Foley asking to immediately defer the Committee stage consideration of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025, as the government’s own amendments will not be ready in time to be debated. Deputy Farrelly said: “TD’s are elected, first and foremost, to legislate. How […]

The use of Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) as settings for vulnerable children to be housed must be brought to an end, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “The number of children in Special Emergency Arrangements has almost doubled in the past two years “Despite criticism from several judges and advocacy […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has criticised the Minister for Children’s response to the recent High Court ruling in relation to two institutions wrongly excluded from the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. Deputy Cairns said: “The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme has been needlessly discriminatory since its inception, with 24,000 people excluded from […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has expressed her horror at Cork City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for 140 apartments on lands at the former Bessborough mother and baby home. Deputy Cairns said: “This is the possible burial place of hundreds of unaccounted for children who died at this notorious institution, which operated as […]

The treatment of hundreds of children by North Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services exposed many young patients to unacceptable risk and reflects serious failures in oversight and clinical governance, according to Social Democrats mental health spokesperson Liam Quaide TD. Deputy Quaide said: “Of the 374 cases reviewed, the report identifies a risk of […]

Government plans to introduce age restrictions for under-16s on social media are well intentioned but will not work, according to Social Democrats TDs Sinéad Gibney and Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s media spokesperson, said: “This seems to be a case of the government wanting to be seen to be doing something but, […]