News

This week’s report outlining Tusla’s catastrophic shortcomings when complying with court directions affecting hundreds of children paints a picture of an organisation in dire need of a complete overhaul, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, the party’s Children spokesperson, said: “This week’s decision of a judicial inquiry into Tusla’s failure to act […]

The Government must urgently address the failings in the homelessness system highlighted in a joint report launched today by Depaul and Mental Health Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said: “The report, entitled ‘Breaking the Cycle: Addressing Mental Health and Homelessness Through Integrated […]

Attempts to abruptly move Ukrainian refugees from student accommodation in Dublin are chaotic and cruel, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon said: “Last month, more than 200 Ukrainian refugees were told they would be moved from accommodation in Dublin 1, where many of them have put down roots in the community. […]

It is shameful that disabled people continue to be at such a huge risk of living in poverty, according to Social Democrats Spokesperson for Disability Liam Quaide. “New research from the ESRI has today painted a stark picture of the huge financial pressures faced by disabled people. “Not only are they at a greatly increased […]

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing an almost 40 per cent drop in planning permissions for apartments last year is further evidence that the government’s housing system is broken, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “These figures are stark and have huge […]

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) highlight the significant impact of housing costs on deprivation levels in Ireland, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “Last year, three in 10 households (29.5 per cent) regarded housing costs as a heavy financial burden. However, this […]

Delays to the construction of thousands of social and affordable homes due to an interdepartmental row over funding is further proof that this government is not capable of tackling the housing crisis, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “It has been reported today that work […]

The Government must stop dithering and make a decision to extend the Basic Income for the Arts scheme before the current pilot runs out, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who’s the party’s Arts spokesperson, said: “When I queried the Arts Minister on his plans for a successor scheme to the pilot […]

Social Democrats health spokesperson Pádraig Rice TD has called on the Minister for Health to publish the long-awaited sexual health strategy for Ireland. Deputy Rice, who raised this issue in the Dáil today, said: “Ireland currently has no sexual health strategy. We have been without a comprehensive plan or vision for sexual health services since […]

The government must act to insulate consumers from future energy price increases, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Energy prices in Ireland are the second highest in the EU – and they are continuing to climb. “Last week, Airtricity announced it was hiking its prices […]