Dublin Central by-election candidate Daniel Ennis discusses his path into the world of politics.

People are scared of the next bill landing through their door.

The cost of living crisis is hitting families hard and they need real support now.

We’re proposing a €400 energy credit, support for essential workers and investment in solar to cut bills long term.

The debate on the Soc Dems' motion on tackling soaring energy costs has just started.

📺You can watch it live here tinyurl.com/23rudu66

Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra Saturday 11 April 2026 Cormac Ó hEadhra unpacks the political week with lively debate and fresh perspectives from those shaping policy - both nationally and globally.

I was on RTE radio one yesterday as the tensions rose at the blockades at Whitegate. You can listen back here. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

A million homes in Ireland are suitable for solar panels, which could save households hundreds on energy bills.

People on lower incomes shouldn't be excluded from making those savings.

That's why we're bringing forward our Solar for All plan.

But what does the plan involve?

Watch to find out

The dedication teachers have to their profession is deeply admirable.

They're at the coalface of our education system – and no one understands how to improve it like they do.

The govt must listen to their concerns to ensure Ireland has a world-class education system well into the future.

Minister for Education must meaningfully engage with teacher unions to avoid strike action - Social Democrats Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton must approach negotiations with our teachers unions in good faith if we are to avoid strike action this coming autumn, according to Social Democrats educatio...

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton must approach negotiations with our teachers unions in good faith if we are to avoid strike action.

Both the INTO and ASTI are considering strike action in response to the chronic underresourcing of education on all fronts.

@jencummins.bsky.social

‘Religion should be done at home’ – TD says divestment of Catholic schools moving at ‘nought miles an hour’ Primary school divestment is moving at “nought miles an hour”, activists say, as only one school has removed Catholic patronage in two years.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/r...

Textbooks v screens: Parents are now questioning the use of classroom tech In a number of countries there is a movement away from using laptops and digital devices for schoolwork. Could Ireland follow suit?

jrnl.ie/7002020

Survey on school ethos must be a catalyst for change - Social Democrats The government cannot continue to sit back and ignore this ongoing crisis The government must act on a survey which found 41 percent of parents of children attending a Catholic primary school would pr...

www.socialdemocrats.ie/survey-on-sc...

@tuiunion.bsky.social congress 2026 is in full swing. Listening intently to motions and debates.

Teachers are still waiting on pay they were due months ago.

At the INTO conference, delegates spoke clearly about pay delays, working conditions and the urgent need for proper supports in education.

In the middle of a cost of living crisis, this simply isn’t good enough.

Report card shows that students are being left behind by failing education policies - Social Democrats The Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card makes clear that students and their families are still facing excessive pressure and insufficient supports, according to Social Democrats education spokesper...

The Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card makes clear that students and their families are still facing excessive pressure and insufficient supports.

Without strong, accessible supports beyond the classroom, efforts to tackle educational disadvantage will fall short.

@jencummins.bsky.social

Education overspend to reach hundreds of millions while schools continue to struggle from underinvestment - Social Democrats It’s difficult to understand how the Department of Education is facing an overspend of up to €700 million while schools around the country continue to struggle from underinvestment, according to Socia...

Dept of Education is facing an overspend of up to €700 million this year.

Yet schools around the country continue to struggle due to years of underinvestment by successive Govts.

We need to treat education as an investment in our future rather than a cost to be contained.

@jencummins.bsky.social

Government student accommodation plan misses the mark on affordability and access - Social Democrats Social Democrats higher education spokesperson Jen Cummins has criticised the Government’s newly published National Student Accommodation Strategy 2026–2035, warning that it fails to address the core ...

For students, the housing crisis is no longer just about availability, but about cost.

Continuing to rely on private developers to deliver student housing risks repeating the same mistakes that have defined Ireland’s wider housing crisis.

@jencummins.bsky.social

“Every single day and in every single email, phone call or appointment in my clinics I meet women who have not seen the benefits of equality, equity and empowerment.”

@jencummins.bsky.social speaking this week on the Dáil International Women’s Day statements.

There are plenty of resources to ensure everyone is provided with an accessible, appropriate and inclusive education.⁠
⁠
This constant pitting two communities against one another has to stop and we must start centring our education system around every child.

I actually cannot believe this decision was made

The Government have decided to reintroduce Exam fees for State Exams during a cost of living crisis is completely out of touch with reality

This cannot happen, we must support our students and their families and make education truly free

A lot of people want to know – what do TDs do when they’re not sitting in the Dáil?

Join @jencummins.bsky.social as she spends the day out and about in her constituency of Dublin South-Central.

So-called ‘reform’ of Assessment of Need process is cover for years of service development failure - Social Democrats The government’s proposed changes to the Assessment of Need (AON) process — currently going through pre-legislative scrutiny in the Oireachtas — is essentially cover for years of service development f...

Govt's proposed changes to Assessment of Need process is essentially cover for years of service development failure.

This legislative change is a misdirection of focus from what is urgently needed – proper workforce planning, recruitment and integration of services.

@liamquaidetd.bsky.social

Ireland must be clear in defending international law.

Diplomacy means speaking truth to power even when it’s difficult.

Our moral compass matters, especially when war and human lives are at stake.

Bombs and warmongering will not lead to peace or global security for anyone. It is innocent civilians who will lose the most.

“There is no pathway to peace through military means.” @patriciastephenson.bsky.social

SNA controversy descends further into farce as Department admits it doesn’t know where promised €19m will come from - Social Democrats The controversy over SNA allocations has descended further into farce, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins, with the Department of Public Expenditure admitting to an Oireachtas committee toda...

The SNA controversy had descended further into farce.

When it made its screeching U-turn this week, the Govt promised an additional €19m in funding for SNAs.

But Dept of Public Expenditure told PAC this morning it has no idea where this money will come from.

@jencummins.bsky.social

Agreed additional supports must follow Taoiseach’s apology to survivors of industrial and reformatory schools - Social Democrats The State apology given by the Taoiseach today to those who suffered abuse in industrial and reformatory schools, while welcome, will be meaningless if the government fails to honour its commitment to...

State apology given by the Taoiseach today to those who suffered abuse in industrial and reformatory schools is welcome.

But it will be meaningless if the government fails to honour its commitment to provide additional supports for survivors.

@jencummins.bsky.social

Too many mothers are struggling in silence after birth, without the support they need.

The Year Of Care campaign calls for a full year of postnatal support for every mother in Ireland.

Every mother ought to be supported in that first year.

SNAs have been shown huge disrespect by govt over the last week.

The work that they do – for some of the most vulnerable children in our schools – is absolutely essential.

Any review of allocation and roles of SNAs must be handled with far more care than FF and FG have given.

Short-term fixes not good enough for SNAs and families - Social Democrats The government’s screeching u-turn on cuts to SNAs was inevitable but raises further serious questions, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The gove...

The government’s screeching u-turn on cuts to SNAs was inevitable but raises further serious questions.

It is clear the government is desperate to kick this can down the road for as long as possible, in the hopes public anger will die down.

@jencummins.bsky.social

Government must scrap plan for national SNA reduction - Social Democrats The government must not proceed with any plan to cut Special Needs Assistant support across the country, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins, who has be...

The government must not proceed with any plan to cut Special Needs Assistant support across the country.

The proposals are wholly premature; many new special classes have not been confirmed, and the broader SNA Workforce Development Plan remains unpublished.

@jencummins.bsky.social

I know that in the context of global instability, a housing crisis and a cost of living crisis, it is hard to consider the threat and impact of climate change. But we need a government that does.

We need a government that puts the people and the planet first.

That has the courage and the vision to meet our country’s greatest challenges across climate, cost of living, housing and healthcare.

@hollycairns.bsky.social

Scrapping the Triple Lock would remove the guardrails on where Irish troops can be sent.

It weakens our neutrality and sidelines the UN.

If the Government thinks it has a mandate, let the people decide.