News

The government’s intention to examine a two-track approach to college fee reductions is fundamentally flawed and fails to honour previous promises made to students, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “Any proposal to offer partial relief to some students while maintaining […]

The government’s willingness to throw students under the bus by jacking up third level fees by €1,000 for the 2025/26 academic year is further proof that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot be trusted, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “We […]

The government’s failure to properly fund schools is forcing parents into a cycle of “voluntary” contributions that are anything but voluntary, according to Social Democrats higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Families across Ireland are contributing approximately €54 million at primary level alone to cover basic school costs such as heating, electricity, and day-to-day […]

There has been total radio silence from the Minister today, who has gone into hiding Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to get their act together and keep their commitments to students and families to reduce third level fees, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. “Yesterday, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless dropped […]

Raising student contribution fees by €1,000 per year amidst a cost of living crisis will make a college education more inaccessible for some students and families, according to Social Democrats further and higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “This proposal comes as students and families across the country are already grappling with unprecedented […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has described the US embassy’s new social media vetting requirements for Irish applicants seeking education and exchange visas as a serious overreach. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on higher education, said: “Asking visa applicants to set their social media accounts to public to allow their posts to be […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called on the Department of Education to scrap plans to review the designation of special schools ahead of the new term in September. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Schools catering for children with mild general learning disabilities are being put under pressure by the government […]

The government must urgently expand eligibility for the School Transport Scheme to help Ireland achieve its climate action targets, reduce congestion on our roads, and tackle education disadvantage, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on education, said: “With just 18 per cent of primary and post-primary pupils […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has criticised the government for its failure to ease the financial burden of school uniform costs on families. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on education, said: “This is an issue that has been sitting on the desks of successive Ministers for Education for nearly a decade. “In fact, […]

The government has finally abandoned their plan to spend €9m on phone pouches for schools but are still refusing to give schools autonomy over how the money is spent, according to Social Democrats Education spokesperson Jen Cummins. “In the Dáil today, the Tánaiste announced a screeching government u-turn. Instead of their much vaunted plan to […]