News

Soaring rent costs and the chronic lack of rental properties around the country are putting enormous economic and emotional pressures on families and individuals, Social Democrats Councillor Gary Gannon said today. Reacting to today’s Daft.ie report, Cllr Gannon said: “Skyrocketing rents and the chronic shortage of rental accommodation around the country is having a massive […]

According to Social Democrats co-leader, Róisín Shortall TD, “today’s shocking hospital waiting lists of 687,000 people are a new record and represent a huge failing on the part of Government.  Providing a decent health service where people can get timely treatment, on the basis of need, is a basic requirement of any civilised country.  Yet […]

The HSE computer glitch which has potentially affected some 25,000 patients was an avoidable mistake that could have been caught earlier had the right systems been in place, the Social Democrats said today. Galway West candidate, Niall Ó Tuathail, who is a health reform adviser with the NHS, said: “This flaw was an avoidable mistake. […]

Following the hit success of The Darkside Detective, a game developed by a team working in their spare time between Galway and Dublin, the Social Democrats have called upon the government to support the games industry in a similar way to the Irish film industry which has been built into a global hub. Niall Ó […]

The General Election campaign of the Social Democrats’ candidate for Dublin Central, councillor Gary Gannon, will be launched at a public event tomorrow night [Thursday 3 August]. Broadcaster, fashion designer, and health campaigner Brendan Courtney will MC the event, which kicks off at 7.30p.m. in the Skylon Hotel in Drumcondra. The theme of Gary’s campaign is #We Are, and speakers will […]

The government’s abject failure to deliver so-called ‘rapid-build’ homes shows just how desperately we need a dedicated Housing Delivery Agency, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy said today. Deputy Murphy said: “It’s farcical for the government to talk about ‘rapid-build’ homes when only 22 out of 1,500 pledged modular units have been completed so far. It’s […]

People seeking free legal advice are currently facing waiting times of up to 76 weeks for appointments at Legal Aid Board law centres, according to the latest figures released to the Social Democrats. The figures show that combined waiting times for first and second consultations at Legal Aid Board law centres on 1st July 2017 were […]

The Department of Health and the HSE need to stop passing the buck over funding for nine life-saving drugs so that public patients do not suffer, Róisín Shortall TD said today. Deputy Shortall made her comments following reports that the Department of Health and the HSE were at odds over whether the executive has sufficient […]

Official figures released today to the Social Democrats from the Department of Justice reveal the staggering number and length of time people are waiting for Free Legal Aid in Cork. In a written answer to a question from Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall, Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD noted the following figures […]

The government has resorted to cynically re-announcing a pre-existing corruption bill in a bid to make itself look busy, Róisín Shortall TD said today. The co-leader of the Social Democrats was commenting on the announcement by the Minister for Justice that the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017 was discussed at cabinet yesterday. “This Bill […]

The Social Democrats have called on the Garda Síochána to publish full details of any contracts with private companies operating mobile speed detection cameras in the state. Party co-leader Róisín Shortall TD made the call today as details of a €1.2 million per month contract with the company GoSafe were published following a Freedom of […]

Social Democrats representatives in Co Louth will deliver water to households in the Drogheda area this week in a bid to help with the supply crisis in the town. The party members have put out a social media appeal asking people to contact them if they know of any elderly, sick or vulnerable residents who […]

The high costs of sending children to school need to be lifted so that parents do not have to use money earmarked for household bills, the Social Democrats said today. Party co-leader Róisín Shortall TD was commenting on a survey published today which found that 72 per cent of parents feel the back to school […]

Aengus Ó Maoláin, Social Democrats representative for Castleknock and Blanchardstown, has called on Fingal County Council to take on responsibility for recycling used car tyres for a trial period at its depot in Coolmine as one possible step to address the scourge of illegal dumping in Dublin 15. Hundreds of fish were killed today due […]