News

The Social Democrats today publish a Bill to free up more vacant land for housing. Publishing the Bill today, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy TD said: “The housing crisis is not caused by a shortage of land to develop. It’s down to the fact that we are not building on the land that we have. Urban […]

Co-leader of the Social Democrats Róisín Shortall TD called on the Minister for Housing to urgently introduce an affordable housing scheme. Speaking today in the Dáil, Deputy Shortall said: “Given the pricing trends we’ve seen reported this week, it’s clear the government needs to intervene now. Without urgent introduction of an affordable housing scheme home […]

The first entries on the Dublin City Council Vacant Site Register, published today, show how little is being done by Government to use publicly controlled land to deliver new housing supply in Dublin. Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said “In total the sites are valued at €77.7m. Of the 25 sites listed, 11 […]

The Social Democrats have called for an immediate response from the Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, to the revelations regarding the role of Tusla in the Sergeant Maurice McCabe affair. Speaking this morning, Social Democrat co-leader Róisín Shortall said; “The extraordinary sequence of events regarding these vile allegations made against Sergeant McCabe require a full […]

The Government must immediately address the funding shortage in home-care if its late conversion to the Right to Home-Care is to be believed, said Social Democrats T.D. Róisín Shortall. In advance of the Dáil debate on the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2016, Ms. Shortall said that services for older people have been neglected for […]

Hundreds of families across Ireland are facing massive rent hikes in the coming weeks.  That’s according to the Social Democrats, who today (21.11.16) called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to take immediate action to prevent a spike in homelessness this winter.   During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil this afternoon, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the […]

 – Party unveils wide-ranging proposals to tackle housing crisis and homelessness –   The Government must ensure that a spike in homelessness is avoided from next month by extending rent certainty measures which are due to expire in the first week in December. That’s according to the Social Democrats, who are having their inaugural national […]

– Party outlines education policy priorities at inaugural national conference – The Social Democrats have called for repeal of Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Act, the clause that means the majority of State-funded schools can refuse children from different faiths or non-religious backgrounds. At the Party’s inaugural national conference today (19.11.16), Róisín Shortall TD, […]

The Social Democrats are calling for a Commission to review Insurance hikes which are threatening the viability of small businesses across Ireland CSO data shows that business insurance prices have increased by 29.6% since 2011 This week’s ploughing championships are celebrating the success, innovation and determination of small business owners. But as they work hard […]

The Social Democrats are calling for NAMA to brief all party leaders about what properties still exist in their portfolios and about impending transactions. “In light of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report into Project Eagle we believe it is now essential that we know which assets NAMA currently holds and their intended disposals’, said […]