Policies for Students
Here's what the parties would do for you.
Affordable Housing Programme
75,000 affordable homes on state land. Under €300,000 in Dublin. Under €260,000 elsewhere.
Hundreds of thousands of younger adults are stuck living in the family home, unable to move out and move on with their lives because they …
Why this matters to you: €100m for affordable student accommodation
€1.3 billion/year + €290m capitalEducation: Truly Free and Inclusive
Fully fund school books and transport. Cut third-level fees by €1,000. Specialist counsellor in every school.
Irish families spend hundreds of euro every year on so-called 'free' education - books, uniforms, transport, voluntary contributions. The Social Democrats would make primary and …
Why this matters to you: Cut third-level fees by €1,000, increase SUSI grants, fund student housing
€1,000 fee cut + school funding package40 Measures to Cut the Cost of Living
40 costed measures: freeze rents, cap childcare at €250/month, free GP care, €1 off-peak fares, solar panels on 500,000 homes.
Ireland is now the most expensive country in the EU after Luxembourg. The price of goods and services is 38% above the EU average. Once-off …
Why this matters to you: Free public transport for under-18s, phase out student fees
Youth: Investment, Voice and Opportunity
€150 sports/culture voucher for 6-18s. Free public transport for under-18s. €200 Culture Card for 18-24s.
Young people were left behind during the pandemic and community facilities have yet to catch up. Mental health services are overwhelmed, youth clubs are underfunded, …
Why this matters to you: €200 Culture Card for 18-24s, free public transport, CAMHS fully staffed
Transport as a Public Good
€1 off-peak fares. Free transport for under-18s. MetroLink and DART expansion. Double rural Local Link funding.
Ireland's public transport is underfunded, inconsistent, and increasingly privatised. Rural areas are almost entirely car-dependent. The Social Democrats would treat transport as a public good, …
Why this matters to you: Free public transport for under-18s
Mental Health: Funding, Access and Reform
10% of health budget to mental health by 2030. Fully staff CAMHS. Expand to age 25. Counsellor in every school.
Mental health funding is just 5.8% of the total health budget, despite a promise to reach 10%. CAMHS teams are understaffed. Waiting lists are growing. …
Why this matters to you: CAMHS expanded to age 25, counsellor in every school
Arts, Culture and the Creative Sector
€200 Culture Voucher for 18-24s. Multi-annual arts funding. Night Mayors for cities. Special rates for creative spaces.
Every person in Ireland has a right to participate in arts and culture. Ireland's creative ecosystem delivers huge cultural and economic value, yet artists struggle …
Why this matters to you: €200 Culture Card for 18-24 year olds