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Following the recent election of new Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis in the Dublin Central by-election, Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns has today announced some changes to spokespeople roles among the parliamentary party. As part of these changes, Deputy Ennis has been appointed the party’s spokesperson on Children, Equality and Sport. Deputy Aidan Farrelly […]

In response to a parliamentary question, the Minister for Children has said there is no plan to conduct a review of Tusla, despite recent reports that the agency is failing to report cases of alleged child abuse to the Gardaí, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “I wrote to the […]

The Minister for Children must commission an independent review of Tusla after it was found that suspected cases of child abuse were not referred to Gardaí for over three months, and in some cases not referred at all, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “How many damning reports is it […]

The latest child poverty figures will be a stain on this Government’s term in office unless meaningful measures are introduced to tackle income inequality, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “The 2026 Child Poverty Monitor, published by the Children’s Rights Alliance, is a shameful […]

The Transport Minister must explain why the replacement of Irish Rail’s IT system is such an omnishambles and who is responsible, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who sits on the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, said: “Last month, it was revealed that Irish Rail had written down the value of a new […]

The Government’s new maximum fee cap for childcare services operating under the core funding model is a derisory reduction that will make little difference to hard-pressed families, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “Under the new maximum fee cap announced today by Children’s Minister […]

Today’s revelation that Irish Rail has written down the value of a new IT system by €50 million is further proof that the State is unable to effectively manage projects of this nature, according to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly, who sits on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “The Irish Times reported […]

20% of the 1,778 complaints to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office last year concerned Tusla, further proving the need for an independent review into its standards, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “One in five complaints to the Ombudsman for Children’s Office concerned Tusla in 2025. This is indicative of […]

Hiring security guards to make up the numbers in special care units is grossly inappropriate and leaves children at risk, according to Social Democrats children spokesperson Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “Hiring security guards to plaster over staff shortages in Tusla’s most secure units will degrade standards of care for our most vulnerable children. “The […]

Raising the betting tax to fund sports and culture initiatives would break down barriers to participation in our most vulnerable communities, according to Social Democrats Dublin Central byelection candidate Councillor Daniel Ennis, and the party’s children’s spokesperson, Aidan Farrelly TD. Speaking at the launch of the party’s sports and culture policy, Councillor Ennis said: “Sport […]