Dr Jen Cummins TD

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.

Two in five people with disabilities cannot afford heating or new clothes.

Yet instead of easing that pressure, the govt's budget left disabled people €1,400 worse off.

We know that one-off measures aren't sustainable – but pulling the rug out from under such a vulnerable group is indefensible.

Taoiseach’s apology must mark a turning point in how State treats survivors of industrial schools - Social Democrats It is shameful that it took a hunger strike by survivors of industrial and reformatory schools to extract a State apology from the government, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen ...

It's welcome that Taoiseach has agreed to make a formal apology in the Dáil to survivors of industrial and reformatory schools

This is the very least they deserve.

But it should not have taken a hunger strike to extract a State apology.

@jencummins.bsky.social

Hot School Meals: The intentions are good, but the delivery is poor Jen Cummins says the programme is built on the right principle, but food waste, poor design and a one-size-fits-all approach risk undermining children’s health and learning.

"The Hot School Meals Programme, while welcome in principle, is falling short of its ambition," writes @jencummins.bsky.social in @thejournal.ie today.

"The Government cannot afford to ignore its weaknesses."

It was an honour to write a chapter in the book, How Ireland Voted 2024. The tenth edition. Thank you to the authors for inviting me to participate.

Flaws in Hot School Meals Programme must be addressed - Social Democrats Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has accused the government of failing to deliver the Hot School Meals Programme in a way that is fair, sustainable and genuinely centred on children’s nutritional needs...

Children cannot learn if they are hungry.

That is why the Hot School Meals Programme matters so much.

But weaknesses in the scheme urgently need to be addressed by Govt.

@jencummins.bsky.social

3,500 teachers are on a career break amid staffing shortage as union puts the blame on house prices More than 3,500 teachers are currently on a career break while thousands of teaching posts remain unfilled, but unions are blaming the housing crisis for forcing their members to drop out of teaching...

To improve retention and address shortages, teachers, SNAs and school staff need greater access to affordable housing near schools, real-terms restoration of pay and more permanent, full-time posts.

You can read my full comments here ⤵️

www.independent.ie/irish-news/3...

750 degree level course places offered outside CAO system More than 750 places on degree level courses in areas including Occupational Therapy and Nursing are being offered to applicants outside of the CAO points system for this coming September.

After raising this in the Dáil I am delighted to see the increase of these much needed tertiary places especially given the high demand for more OT’s as a part of the The Educational Therapy Support Service roll out.

Would love to see SLT’s added too!

www.rte.ie/news/2025/05...

RTÉ investigation into sexual abuse by Christian Brothers highlights the need for more secular schools - Social Democrats RTÉ’s investigation into the systematic sexual abuse of children by Christian Brothers should serve as a salutary reminder of the need to end the prevalence of religious orders in our schools, accordi...

RTÉ investigation into sexual abuse of children by Christian Brothers should serve as a reminder of the need to end the prevalence of religious orders in schools.

Next week, a my first motion will seek to build a secular education system.

www.socialdemocrats.ie/rte-investig...

A campaign on pension parity starting to ensure that school secretaries and caretakers are eligible for pensions.

It was great to attend the @forsatradeunion.bsky.social conference! Thank you to everyone who invited me, it was great to catch up with colleagues.

Opinion: Ireland is changing. Our education system must change with it Jen Cummins of the Social Democrats says change is coming too slowly when it comes to non-denominational school choice for families in Ireland.

See my article in the @thejournal.ie today!

We need more choice for parents and more inclusive schools

www.thejournal.ie/readme/schoo...

A week of education conferences complete! It’s been a great week to catch up with people I’ve worked with throughout my career in education & to meet people who are new to me now in my role as education spokesperson.

A campaign on pension parity starting to ensure that school secretaries and caretakers are eligible for pensions.

It was great to attend the @forsatradeunion.bsky.social conference! Thank you to everyone who invited me, it was great to catch up with colleagues.

Autism looks different for everyone. Let's challenge misconceptions, listen to people with lived experience, and create spaces where everyone feels valued.

Great to be at the NWCI Women’s Assembly : a Feminist Shared Future ahead of #IWD2025 💜

Their work on creating an inclusive shared space to discuss the issues impacting women across the country is inspiring

Delighted to have my previous colleagues from @educatetogether.bsky.social in to discuss the crucial developments needed to ensure parents have the opportunity to educate their children in the way they want

There were zero new Educate Together schools in ‘24 and ‘23 this needs to change 📚✏️