Index linking would mean payment increases of at least €15 a week Labour calls for summer bonus payment for social welfare recipients Responding to reports today of Fine Gael Budget requests, Labour Social Protection spokesperson Seán Sherlock called on the Tánaiste to confirm that the budget will include index linked social welfare increases of at…

Government’s refusal to facilitate a debate on Special Education in the Dáil this week points to a government out of touch with the huge concern facing many families throughout the country, said Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Labour called for a scheduled debate on Higher Education this Thursday to be replaced by a debate…

Renters’ need greater security of tenure HAP scheme must be revised No child should be at risk of homelessness With shameful homeless figures published this week, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said local authorities must be given powers to protect people from entering homelessness. With 10,049 people without homes in this country, almost 3,000 of whom…

Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has called for a national framework approach to HAP. Senator Moynihan said: “We need to make structural changes to the manner in which the supported housing system is run. The figures published by the PBO show we are underestimating the scale of the challenge ahead and that there isn’t uniformity…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Minister to release the SNA allocations for the forthcoming school term. With schools throughout the country attempting to divvy out resources, Deputy Ó Ríordáin said they cannot continue to operate without the allocation information. Deputy Ó Ríordáin: “It is disgrace that we are a month…

Labour transport spokesperson and TD for Dublin Fingal said the so-called ‘right-sizing’ policy of staff in Dublin Airport has resulted in the chaos experienced by people over the weekend. With base levels of airport staff too low, and with pay and conditions for staff diminishing, Deputy Smith said the DAA must now look at the…

Pass Family Homeless Bill   Review HAP limits Allow local authorities to buy where tenant is in situ Labour housing spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan has pleaded with government to introduce an immediate rent freeze to stop people living in the private rental market falling into homelessness. With staggering levels of homelessness reported today, Senator Moynihan called…

Ireland needs an immediate and significant pay rise Labour leader Ivana Bacik has encouraged government to support Labour’s Living Wage Bill published earlier this month, rather than delaying the delivery of a pay rise for working people by publishing a separate government bill. With one survey suggesting that 62% of people plan to cut food…