News

Social Democrats spokesperson on Education, Gary Gannon highlights the need for inclusion to mean inclusion for students with Down syndrome in July Provision. The Department of Education and Skills announced on the 5th of June that students with Down syndrome would be included for the first time in the July Provision, a measure welcomed by […]

The roadmap for fully resuming the health service, including elective surgeries and screening services, is long overdue and now a matter of urgency, according to Róisín Shortall TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats. She said, “For each of the last three weeks, the Minister has promised that the roadmap for the health service would […]

Speaking at the Special Committee on Covid-19 Response, Holly Cairns TD, drew attention to the unique challenges faced by island and Gaeltacht communities in recovering from the effects of the Covid pandemic. Holly called for targeted supports for these communities. Holly said: “We should commend island communities, such as Bere, Sherkin, Heir and Cape Clear […]

Cllr Ronan Moore, Social Democrats, has called on Meath residents both young and old for ideas on how to make Meath a better place to live in. He is asking for people to send in their ‘One Big Idea’ via social media or post, after which he will select a winning one and commit to […]

Cllr Ronan Moore, Social Democrats, has called for the immediate inclusion of Meath into the Midlands Engagement Process, so that community, public, private or third-sector led organisations might retrospectively submit proposals under the €11m Just Transition Fund, which helps support training and sustainable employment opportunities for workers and families impacted by Ireland’s early exit from […]

Social Democrats spokesperson on Rural and Community Development, Holly Cairns has stressed the need for both joined-up thinking from government and a commitment to working with affected communities in creating robust flood defences and mitigation strategies. Speaking on the government’s Annual Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, Holly raised the importance of flood […]

Social Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and T.D. for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan welcomes Ireland’s election to the United Nations Security Council and calls on the Government to use its new influence to promote peacebuilding and peacekeeping, and to stand up for human rights, minority groups, Palestine and other small nations. Deputy Cian O’Callaghan said: […]

Holly Cairns, Social Democrat spokesperson on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, raised the issue of supporting small fishing communities in the Dáil. Speaking on the government’s Annual Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, Holly highlighted the importance of small piers and marine infrastructure to sustainable fishing. Holly explains: “Last week was World Oceans […]

The Social Democrats have reacted to the publication of today’s Programme for Government by reiterating their call for a clear outline of how it is intended to fund the measures included in the document. The party says that the main priorities of any government must be an improvement in public services and a rebooting of […]

Cork South West TD, Holly Cairns, Social Democrat spokesperson on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, highlighted the need for a just transition and creativity to be at the heart of climate action on agriculture and fishing. Speaking in the Dáil on the government’s Annual Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, Holly stressed that […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore has reiterated her call for the retention of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The call comes amid repeated suggestions in the media that the existing Department should merge with the Department of Education and a separate new Department for Higher Education be formed instead.  Whitmore says […]

Róisín Shortall, TD and co-leader of the Social Democrats, has spoken out against this Friday’s (12 June 2020) deadline for patients and family members of deceased patients to opt out of a study which will collect tissue from decades of brain surgery. She is calling on the Minister for Health to extend the opt-out deadline […]

Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children, Deputy Jennifer Whitmore has today welcomed the announcement by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs of a funding package of €75m to the childcare sector to help facilities reopen at the end of the month. Whitmore welcomes the inclusion of a once-off grant totalling €375,000 to be provided for childminders. […]

Social Democrats Councillor, and professional youth worker Aidan Farrelly has called for greater assurances from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone, who this week refused to rule out funding cuts to the services offered to children and young people.  “It seems that youth services throughout Ireland are facing as turbulent a post-COVID […]