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Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has paid tribute to young disability campaigner Cara Darmody ahead of a cross-party Opposition motion on Assessments of Needs (AONs), which will be debated in the Dáil this evening. Deputy Cairns said: “Through her tireless advocacy on behalf of her two younger brothers, Cara has helped keep the spotlight on […]

Disabled people will experience increased hardship this winter because of the government’s failure to introduce a weekly cost of disability payment and other targeted supports in the budget, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Speaking on International Day of Disabled Persons, Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “Next Tuesday, the […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has strongly criticised the government’s failure to engage with disability groups as part of a review of its response to Storm Éowyn. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s climate spokesperson, said: “At today’s Climate Committee meeting I was really taken aback to learn that the Department of Housing did not […]

Fully updated waiting list and recruitment figures must be provided by the HSE ahead of a joint meeting of the Oireachtas Disability Matters and Health Committees to address the crisis in primary care services for young people, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “There […]

There must be urgent reform of the State examinations system to ensure that students with dyslexia are granted additional time and appropriate supports during their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Earlier this month at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth, I highlighted […]

People with disabilities and their families have been failed by Budget 2026, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “It has long been recognised that having a disability comes with significant additional financial pressures, including the costs of therapies, equipment and transport. Despite repeated calls […]

The findings of a report on the treatment of disability and carer’s benefit applicants are a damning indictment of a system that routinely fails the very people it’s supposed to support, according to Social Democrats social protection spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “According to the Citizens Information Board (CIB) report, people applying for disability […]

The government’s newly launched Disability Strategy 2025-20230 is full of aspirational language but lacks funding commitments or implementation details, according to Social Democrats disability spokesperson Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “For a sector that is so deep in crisis, across all areas – be it educational placements, access to therapies or residential services – a […]

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide is seeking full transparency from the HSE on the cost of outsourcing Assessments of Need and has called for proper State investment in primary care services. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on disability, said: “I have submitted parliamentary questions to each of the six health regions, seeking a breakdown of costs […]

Social Democrats TDs Rory Hearne and Jen Cummins today handed in a letter to the Minister for Education on behalf of three Dublin families struggling to secure special education places for their children. Deputy Hearne, who is a TD for Dublin North-West, has taken up the cases of three children in his constituency – Riley […]