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Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson and Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O’Callaghan, has expressed alarm at funding cuts for the access community mental health team for the homeless. In reply to a parliamentary question, the HSE confirmed that funding for this service has fallen by €87,122 (or 13%) in the last two years. Deputy O’Callaghan said: […]

Gary Gannon TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Education, has expressed concern that there may not be enough substitute post-primary school teachers available in the event of a second wave of Covid-19. Reacting to the Government’s announcement of the €375m roadmap to opening schools at the end of next month, Deputy Gannon said: “While there […]

Speaking in relation to the publication of the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill 2020, which will be rushed through the Dáil this week, Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson, Cian O’Callaghan TD, said: “This bill unfortunately will do little to help renters who are at risk of eviction and homelessness. Most renters are evicted on grounds that […]

Gary Gannon TD, the Social Democrats spokesperson on Social Protection, is to seek an urgent explanation from the Government after it emerged that passengers are having their Pandemic Unemployment Payment removed following airport inspections. Deputy Gannon said: “I was extremely concerned to learn that those receiving the PUP have been targeted by Department of Social […]

Social Democrats TD for Dublin Bay North, Cian O’Callaghan, has warned that a decision by Dublin Bus to withdraw a number of dedicated school bus services in Sutton, Tallaght, Templeogue and Greenhills will hit families financially and lead to increased traffic congestion. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “For students who can’t avail of a lift from parents, […]

Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan T.D., responding to the publication of a Tenancies bill by Government stated: “The proposals by the Government to end the ban on evictions and rent increases for most tenants – while retaining some protections until January 2021 for those tenants who have been in receipt of a Covid 19 […]

Long term, substantial investment and innovative new ways of doing things will be required if schools are to reopen – and stay open – in the coming weeks, according to Gary Gannon, the Social Democrats spokesperson for Education. Deputy Gannon said: “The past number of months have been extremely difficult for students and parents and […]

Social Democrats Co-Leader Róisín Shortall TD has called again on the Minister for Health to urgently halt the proposed funding cuts to Disability Services. Deputy Shortall said: “The new Minister for Health has not provided assurance that the disgraceful funding cuts to the disability sector will be halted, or reversed where they have already taken […]

Speaking on the Bill on Residential Tenancies and Valuations 2020 to be rushed through the Dáil next week, Social Democrat Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan T.D. said: “The Bill published by the Minister for Housing will end the ban on rent increases and the ban on evictions for most tenants. While there is an exception for […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has called on the Government to ensure that the extension of the commercial rates waiver until the end of September will not impact on the ability of local authorities to provide essential services. Deputy Murphy said: “Many businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic were able to avail […]

Giving his reaction to the publication of the Bill on Residential Tenancies and Valuations 2020, Social Democrats Housing spokesperson, Cian O’Callaghan TD, said: “This bill proposes to end the rent freeze and evictions ban for most tenants. If the bill passes unamended, evictions and rent increases will resume at the start of August – except […]

Ministers’ game of ‘pass the parcel’ over responsibility for follow up calls to incoming passengers is putting the country at risk of further Covid-19 clusters, according to Róisín Shortall TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats. During health questions in today’s Dáil, Deputy Shortall said: “It is absolutely indefensible that only 3.5% of incoming passengers through […]

Social Democrats spokesperson for the Arts, Gary Gannon TD, said today that a reduction in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will be devastating for Ireland’s artistic community. Deputy Gannon said: “The PUP extension announced by the Government yesterday as part of the July stimulus package fails to take into account the circumstances of many people […]

Catherine Murphy TD, co-leader of the Social Democrats, has said that the €5 billion stimulus package announced this afternoon by the Government must be about putting money into cash registers and into the pockets of those who need it most and will spend it in the short-term. Deputy Murphy said: “While there are positive measures […]