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Today’s budget highlights the Government’s lack of ambition for families, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “After months of uncertainty over promised cuts to childcare costs, it is welcome that the further 25 per cent reduction is now confirmed. However, it has emerged that […]

Child poverty is corrosive and has lifelong negative consequences – but it is preventable  A DEIS-Plus model of funding for the early years sector is essential if we want to break the cycle of child poverty, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on children, said: “In the […]

Housing, children and climate take centre stage Read the full Alternative Budget here Housing, children and climate action are the main focus of the Social Democrats’ Alternative Budget, ‘Unlocking the Future’, which is published today. The party’s key priorities for 2024 include: Deliver 10,000 affordable homes next year – a near doubling of the Government’s […]

Energy companies should no longer be allowed to ride roughshod over their customers while generating huge profits Households will only see a derisory reduction in their energy bills from November, despite a significant drop in wholesale electricity prices over the past year, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s […]

Vulnerable customers and local businesses have been greatly impacted by the erosion of banking services  The Minister for Finance should direct AIB to end the practice of operating cashless branches in parts of the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore made her comments after it emerged that all public bodies are […]

Vulnerable customers and local businesses have been greatly impacted by the erosion of banking services  The Minister for Finance should direct AIB to end the practice of operating cashless branches in parts of the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore made her comments after it emerged that all public bodies are […]

Electric Ireland announcement should just represent the start of a succession of energy price drops for consumers  Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has called for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to be given increased powers to investigate prices charged by energy companies. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said: “Today’s belated […]

Staffing numbers must also be brought up to required levels  Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore has welcomed the news that retained firefighters have voted to accept proposals from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to resolve their industrial dispute. Deputy Whitmore said: “It is positive to learn today that firefighters, through their union SIPTU, have voted […]

Desperate parents forced to leave children behind in hospitals, special schools and residential centres due to lack of State supports A new report showing that children with complex disabilities are being denied the right to grow up at home with their families should be a source of deep shame and embarrassment for the Government, according […]

More than 4,000 children and adolescents waiting to access mental health services across all nine CHOs The publication of individual reports for each of the nine Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) provides further insights into the level of dysfunction within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, […]

Bus Éireann needs to clarify the numbers affected by driver shortages and give a timeline for resolution of the issue  The Social Democrats have called on Bus Éireann and the Department of Education to immediately outline what steps will be taken to address serious shortcomings in the operation of the School Transport Scheme. Jennifer Whitmore, […]

Despite dramatic falls in wholesale electricity costs, households face sky-high energy bills this winter Irish households are facing another winter of sky-high gas and electricity bills due to the Government’s failure to act on sky-high energy prices, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s spokesperson on energy, said: “It […]

This Government is good at making climate action plans but is poor when it comes to delivery The Government’s failure to address significant implementation gaps in its Climate Action Plan will make it next to impossible for Ireland to achieve its carbon reduction targets, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore. Deputy Whitmore was responding […]

The government excels at climate rhetoric, but this is not matched with climate action Social Democrats Spokesperson for Climate, Jennifer Whitmore TD, has described the findings of the Environmental Protection Agency’s report as disappointing, but not surprising. Deputy Whitmore was commenting today after the EPA published its 2022 Greenhouse Gas Inventory report. “Emissions have come […]