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The government’s half-hearted approach to creating adequate school places for children with special needs is an insult to the families breaking their backs to ensure their kids receive an education, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s Education spokesperson, said: “Parents who cannot find a school place for their […]

The record numbers of people living in homeless emergency accommodation will have drawn little comfort from a lacklustre radio interview with Housing Minister James Browne this morning, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said: “To describe the Minister’s interview on RTÉ’s ‘Morning Ireland’ as uninspiring would […]

Keeping rent controls in place is crucial if we want to stem the rising tide of homelessness, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, was commenting on the latest homelessness figures, which were published this afternoon. He said: “Yet again, another grim milestone for homelessness has been […]

It’s unacceptable that the acute mental health unit on the grounds of Cork University Hospital is now only 61% compliant with national standards, down from 79% in 2020, according to Social Democrat’s TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who’s the party’s Health spokesperson, said: “Susie Keane, a constituent of mine, has raised the alarm over the […]

The government must urgently act to resolve industrial disputes involving tens of thousands of healthcare workers, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice. Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said: “Today, 6,500 psychiatric nurses began industrial action in a dispute over unsustainable staffing levels. “This is on top of the 80,000 healthcare workers […]

The government is sleepwalking through a teacher shortage crisis which has reached a new low, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, the party’s Education spokesperson, said: “Last year, former Education Minister Norma Foley said that there wasn’t a problem with staffing in schools, a claim so out of touch with the reality […]

The Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ motion on Wednesday (March 26) calling for a people’s vote, or plebiscite, on the future of the Triple Lock. Sinéad Gibney, the party’s spokesperson on international affairs and defence, said: “The Triple Lock, which has been a central tenet of Irish foreign policy for decades, means 12 or […]

The government must finally make a stand against violent extremism and online incitement, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “Recently released internal documents, as reported in the media, reveal that the government decided to halt the opening of asylum centres in certain areas in response […]

Moves to require all trainee teachers to complete work placements in special education settings, while a step in the right direction, must be extended to include training supports for existing teaching staff in our schools, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Proposed reforms in teacher […]

The underperformance of the Chroí Cónaithe apartment scheme is an abject failure of a government which continues to ignore evidence-based policy in their housing plan, according to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne. Deputy Hearne, who’s the party’s Housing spokesperson, said: “The Chroí Cónaithe Cities scheme is yet another government policy proposed to subsidise the private […]