Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I deal with housing queries on a daily basis. Lately, there seems to be a huge issue with communication between the Department and local authorities. On issues like this, we must ensure that we are all on the same wavelength. I recently encountered a lady who had to go into emergency accommodation because the ban on evictions was lifted. Her child is autistic and has to be picked up from a homeless shelter and brought to school on a bus. There is not enough leniency for me to be able to fight this particular case. In fairness to Carlow County Council, it is understaffed. I am aware it needs many more staff. They are needed in the housing department. However, the Department needs to provide more guidelines. Extreme cases like this that need to be looked at as a matter of urgency must be given priority. I have spoken to the Minister about this matter, as the Taoiseach would expect, but we must have more communication, and I will ask for it.

Transfers have become a huge issue for me, and I have spoken to many other Deputies about them. I have been contacted by a lot of genuine people who need transfers but they are only getting them on medical grounds. While that is welcome, I also know there are genuine cases where people need to be transferred and are not getting a transfer. I can say hand on heart that when people owe money to a local authority, they are told straight away they have to put a payment plan in place. I understand that. I know good work is being done and I can only compliment Carlow County Council but I ask that there be more communication between the Department and local authorities.

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