Results 3,901-3,920 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Marine Spatial Planning: Statements (12 Jun 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State. He spoke about public consultation, which is important. Recently, Seal Rescue Ireland, which receives no State funding for its important work, released back into the wild seals who had been badly hurt in the ocean. During the release it spoke to schoolchildren about the importance of our oceans and marine life. That is an avenue the Minister of State needs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018: Residential Tenancies Board (12 Jun 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am in agreement with the previous speakers. My issue with the Minister over the past few months is that there are only 21 local authorities in the rent pressure zone areas. That is a significant issue in that the amount neighbouring counties will be lower. In my own county of Carlow, rents have increased from €700 to €1,000-€1,100. What is actually happening is that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018: Residential Tenancies Board (12 Jun 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There is a bit of confusion on that because many RAS tenants whom I would deal with would go back to the local authority. RAS tenants are taken off the local authority housing list. There is a lot of confusion. With HAP, they come to the local authority also. It is important that we highlight what the witnesses have said and work with them on that because many people are not aware of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome everyone, particularly Ms Mary Mulholland and Ms Kathleen Holohan from my area. I will go easy on Ms Mulholland. The lack of housing supply is the biggest issue facing us. While I welcome the housing assistance payment, HAP, there are major problems with the scheme and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. Last week I asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will be two minutes more.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay. I will ask about caravans in housing estates. Is there a policy in place in this regard? If a caravan is on a green area, for example, what is the story? Is there a policy and if there is not, could we look at getting one? I have many more questions but I will get back to them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It relates to housing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: To correct the witness, sometimes if there are ten houses, 20 names could be given. Those 20 people would be interviewed and then there would be a decision. That is great and I welcome that but it can be confusing for people who are longer on a list and do not understand the process. I can see that sometimes there could be ten houses with 20 names going forward before a decision is made....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is good to know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There are also the housing assistance payment and rent pressure zone matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: HAP is very low in Carlow. It is €600 per month for a person with two children and €700 for two adults and two children. That is low because rents have gone to €1,000 per month. People are not able to meet the €300 differential. They also pay the council €70 or €80 per week. People are falling behind so it should be examined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know but it is all they have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They are not. That is the problem. If a person is taken off the local authority housing list and gets back on the list a few months later, he or she starts from the beginning. I have had many experiences of this. The previous record of six or seven years on the housing list is not recognised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The issue is that the income limit for eligibility in County Kilkenny is €33,500 whereas the income limit in County Carlow is €27,500. There is no comparison. There are people who are not on the list because they do not qualify on the basis of income levels but who should be on the housing list. I thank Ms Mulholland for clarifying the information but the system is just not...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil also pays tribute to those who have died. What happened to those young ladies was horrific and our sympathy is extended to their families. On education and the priority we place on it, I want to discuss investment in education before the next budget is decided. I agree with Senator Ardagh that we need to have the Minister for Education and Skills attend the House in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: If the Minister could come back to me with some of those answers, I would really appreciate it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister is mixing up the timescales. The timescales are off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I must correct the Minister. Every local authority’s policies are different. That is where the problem is. What works for one local authority is not happening in another area. That is the problem. It is unfair if the Minister does not give direction to each local authority on policies. It is not right. The stronger ones are gaining, but the weaker ones are suffering. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Sorry.