News

The Government has displayed a staggering lack of empathy by refusing to commit to redress for 19 women who were subjected to horrific sexual abuse while pupils at Dunderrow National School in Cork, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “These women are rightly seeking redress for what was done to […]

A new report from Barnardos provides further evidence of the need for targeted energy and cost-of-living supports for vulnerable households, according to Social Democrats TD Daniel Ennis. Deputy Ennis, who is the party’s new spokesperson on children, said: “This report confirms what we have known for some time – that too many families in Ireland […]

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 […]

Government plans to introduce a social media ban for under-16s could potentially drive children to more unregulated and dangerous corners of the internet, according to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Deputy Gibney, who is the party’s media spokesperson, said: “It is deeply frustrating to see this continued tunnel vision from the Government who seem intent […]

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 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 […]

Current exclusion policies applied to institutional abuse redress schemes are creating a hierarchy of survivors, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Thousands of survivors continue to face barriers to recognition and support because of arbitrary eligibility rules and exclusions. “Far too many survivors are still […]

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 […]