Results 13,001-13,020 of 15,852 for speaker:Robert Troy
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: The Deputy does not know what he is talking about.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: In 2010, it was €6.5 million, representing-----
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: -----a reduction of 66% in just two years at a time when there has been unprecedented-----
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: You are in charge of the Department now, not us.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: I am making constructive suggestions on how we might tackle an issue facing many people.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: Unprecedented levels of-----
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: I accept that there are tight financial constraints, but there has not been a corresponding increase in rental accommodation scheme, RAS, funding. This compounds the problem facing us. I recently attended a talk given by Fr. Peter McVerry, who stated that this issue was at breaking point in Dublin. At one point this year, 1,500 units were on the Daft website compared with 6,500 last year....
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: -----the cost of rent has escalated, yet the Government has chosen to reduce the supports provided to people in receipt of rent allowance. That allowance has also been reduced significantly in recent budgets. Due to this direct policy, the Government has forced people to live on the streets. I am not the one saying this. I had the pleasure of listening to Fr. McVerry last Sunday night in...
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: -----there is real capital investment in social housing. We are removing responsibility from county councils when the reverse should be the case. Local authorities throughout Ireland always did a good job of providing social housing. Unfortunately, previous Governments as well as this one have moved too much money into the voluntary sector. While I compliment that sector on the good work...
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: The Minister of State heralded the mortgage to rent scheme as a major success. Will she supply indicative figures showing the number of people who have availed of it? As of late last year, the number availing of it from Westmeath County Council was low. When will the tenant purchase scheme be reintroduced? Some people in local authority housing would like to purchase their houses, but...
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: The Minister of State will confirm that it has been suspended.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: The Minister of State might indicate when the scheme will be reintroduced. It has certainly been suspended in counties Westmeath and Longford.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: Perhaps the scenario in Kildare is different. The proposed social housing legislation must deal with the realities facing many families, for example, family composition and marital breakdown. If a family breaks down and the husband or wife must move out of the home, he or she cannot get approval for social housing because his or her name is on the title deed. I know of a woman who needed...
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: The figure for Westmeath in 2010-----
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: In 2010, the figure for Westmeath was €1.6 million.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: In 2013, the figure was €561,000, a reduction of 66%. That is not on. These grants are critical, as they allow the elderly and people with disabilities to continue living in their family homes for longer than would ordinarily be the case. Saving people from entering long-term nursing home or institutional care saves the State money in the long run. Not only has the Minister of...
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: No longer is the maximum grant €10,000 - it has been reduced by 25%. Every application requires an occupational therapist, OT, report, placing further costs on the applicant. The people availing of these grants do not have discretionary funds. They do not have the €200 or €300 needed to pay for OT reports. What was wrong with a family doctor writing a medical report...
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: -----who needed these supports from getting them. This is the experience on the ground.
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: It is not the council officials' fault. They are only implementing the scheme introduced by the Minister of State. Why were these changes made?
- Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)
Robert Troy: I welcome this opportunity to speak to this singularly important topic. As the previous speaker has outlined, the provision of social housing in Ireland is in a crisis at the moment. We have an unprecedented number of people on the social housing list. Despite that, the Government, which has been in power for the past three years, has slashed investment in capital expenditure for social...