In response to the Government’s decision to close schools, Senator Marie Sherlock has called for increased data allowances to support disadvantaged children to continue learning online. Senator Sherlock said: “We need telecoms providers in the Irish market to follow the lead of their counterparts in the UK, many of whom operate here as well, to…

The Government must clarify how childcare providers will be supported to continue care for children of essential workers. Childcare workers must have early access to the Covid-19 vaccine. Parents who have paid creche fees but cannot access the service must be compensated.   Responding to the Government proposals on childcare today, Labour spokesperson on Children,…

  Private hospital capacity must be urgently secured. Healthcare staff shortages are a huge concern now.   The rising hospitalisation rates and impact of soaring Covid cases on frontline healthcare workers must be the priority of the government over coming days said Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly calling for assurances that capacity has been secured…

Clarity on schools welcome but Government continue to firefight this issue   Labour Education Spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, has welcomed the clarity around the availability in-class learning for Leaving Cert students and students with special needs, however the Labour Party want to ensure that the Leaving Cert provisions have been sanctioned by NPHET. Speaking…

Hundreds of thousands of workers will be confined to home over coming weeks. January is one of the coldest months of the year with low temperatures forecast this week. €28 weekly fuel allowance should be provided to households where only income is the PUP. With a cold weather snap starting, and hundreds of thousands of…

Asking arriving passengers to show clear tests up to 3 days old doesn’t go far enough. Compulsory testing on arrival with rigorous follow up needed. Reacting to the news that the government will now finally require a clear Covid 19 test from arriving passengers Labour Transport spokesperson Duncan Smith said:“For months I have called for…

January must not be lost month for many school pupils Government needs to allocate serious resources to broadcast educational content. BBC producing content next week – RTÉ and others have critical role to play. With the prospect of school pupils out of the physical classroom for the month of January, Labour spokesperson for Media Affairs,…

Investigation required into the possibility of providing in-school tuition for Leaving Cert 2021 The class of 2021 missed 11 weeks of in-school tuition in 2020, and will potentially miss a further four weeks in 2021 Minister for Education must find solutions and communicate clearly with students and teachers   Labour Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin…