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Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD has expressed serious concerns about the Land Development Bill which will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The Land Development Agency Bill will facilitate the privatisation of public land through the back door. This will drive up the cost of homes built on public land. […]

Amid expectations that the Cabinet will sign off on a dual approach to the Leaving Certificate this week, Social Democrats Education spokesperson Gary Gannon TD has called for clarity, communication and contingency for any assessment plans. Commenting today, Deputy Gannon said: “Leaving Certificate students have made their voices heard in terms of what they want […]

The Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD has urged the Minister for Housing to rethink and redesign his affordable housing plans, in particular the shared equity loans. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “The experts are now lining up to tell the Minister for Housing that some of his affordable housing plans will actually make housing more […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Education, Gary Gannon TD, has called on the Government to immediately set up a taskforce dedicated to dealing with the trauma faced by young people due to Covid-19. Deputy Gannon stated: “The effects of Covid-19 are insidious and could have longstanding consequences for our young people into the future if we […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for Children, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has called on the HSE to engage with child experts to put in place a child-centred Assessment of Needs process. Deputy Whitmore was commenting on the findings of a survey carried out by the Psychological Society of Ireland of its members on the Assessment of Needs (AON) […]

The Social Democrats have submitted a Bill to extend the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes by another year. Jennifer Whitmore TD, the party’s spokesperson for Children, said: “We are hoping to publish this Bill in response to discovering that audio recordings of all 550 witnesses interviewed as part of the Commission of […]

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the Climate Action Bill to be introduced in the Dáil without delay. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson for Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “It is now four and a half months since the Bill was first published and it still has not been introduced in […]

– EU Affairs Committee alone will not guarantee the ‘vigorous scrutiny’ required Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has said that the Dáil must ensure proper scrutiny of the Investor Court System elements of CETA before any vote or final decision is taken. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on Climate Action and Biodiversity, said: “The full […]

Speaking out in favour of tighter monitoring of international travel, Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Taoiseach to assign responsibility for travel and quarantining to a different Minister. Deputy Shortall, who is raising the issue in the Dáil today, commented: “As it stands, the Minister for Health is dealing […]

Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan TD has welcomed the announcement by Fingal County Council of a new affordable housing scheme at Dun Emer in Lusk, which he believes should be replicated nationwide. The scheme will be offered in partnership with Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance, with prices ranging from €166,000 for a two-bed apartment to […]