News

Clarity needed on whether census data on population growth was used when allocating additional funds to local authorities Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to publish the methodology used by the working group that reviewed the model of baseline funding to local authorities from Local […]

“The guiding principle that has always informed my work is that healthcare is a human right – not a commodity” Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall has received the inaugural Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award from the Centre for Health Policy and Management at Trinity College Dublin. The Edward Kennedy Health Policy Award recognises the […]

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, […]

A directly-elected Dublin mayor with vision – and executive powers – is needed more than ever  Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has renewed his call for a directly-elected mayor for the capital after it emerged that Dublin City Council has yet to appoint a permanent replacement for its outgoing chief executive Owen Keegan. Deputy Gannon, […]

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, […]

Minister for Health unable to provide details of new completion date or an estimate of final costs for troubled development The Minister for Health’s inability to provide a revised completion date or estimate of final costs for the new National Children’s Hospital shows that the Government has lost control of the project, according to Social […]

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 […]

Children and adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties are being failed by the State Today’s damning report into Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) must be a catalyst for fundamental change in how the HSE operates, according to Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The independent review of CAMHS by Dr Susan Finnerty, the Inspector […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has welcomed the selection of Cllr Elisa O’Donovan as the party’s Limerick City West candidate for the 2024 Local Elections. Deputy Cairns, who took over the leadership of the Social Democrats from co-founders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy earlier this year, visited the city today to meet with members of […]

Legislation underpinning assisted human reproduction is still not in place Social Democrats health spokesperson Róisín Shortall has called for additional funding to be allocated in next year’s Budget so that the eligibility criteria for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment can be widened. “Today’s announcement that publicly funded assisted human reproduction will commence from September is […]

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 […]