Results 4,581-4,600 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: If there is a solution, can the Taoiseach tell me what that is? Does he accept that what I am describing is a crisis? If he does, I ask him to take direct responsibility and ensure that emergency measures of sufficient order to deal with the crisis are put in place immediately. Will he specifically look at the rent caps, which require urgent change, with a view to introducing a more...

Leaders' Questions (6 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Much of the Taoiseach's response was about what we would describe as traditional homelessness, which is, obviously, a major ongoing issue that needs to be addressed. This is entirely new territory involving families who one would never have expected to become homeless. I read an article by Kitty Holland yesterday which stated that in 2012 the Dublin authorities had spent €455,000 in...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Respite Care Services (6 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 412. To ask the Minister for Health the respite beds available at a facility (detailed supplied); his plans to ensure greater capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20183/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 131. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the health and safety risk assessments that are conducted on sites used by her Department to conduct sessions in outsourced sites for members of the public to sign on the live register; the risk indicators that have been identified; the way these are mitigated; the frequency with which risk assessments are reassessed or reviewed; and if she will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Current Housing Demand: Discussion (Resumed) (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Housing waiting lists vary around the country. The last time I saw the figures, approximately 50% of the waiting list was concentrated in three counties: Dublin, Cork and Kildare. They are at the apex of the crisis of homelessness for families. The experience in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown closely matches that in my area. Some local authorities are almost becoming homelessness agencies....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Current Housing Demand: Discussion (Resumed) (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: What about the Dún Laoghaire experience and the two fault lines?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Current Housing Demand: Discussion (Resumed) (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: What about the rent cap fault lines? How does Mr. McHugh deal with the issue of people paying for accommodation under the table when we are seeking to implement the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme? There is also the question of staffing and resourcing. Is this possible without additional resourcing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Current Housing Demand: Discussion (Resumed) (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I wish to revert to a couple of questions I asked previously. We talked about RAS and how what is being paid is over and above what people are getting in rent supplement. However, Limerick City Council has told the joint committee that landlords are withdrawing from RAS, which also is my experience. I believe this is happening where other options are available. How can housing assistance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Current Housing Demand: Discussion (Resumed) (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I got the figures on the staff levels of local authorities in response to a parliamentary question. Using Kildare as an example of moving RAS staff to the HAP scheme, I note there is one RAS staff member. The flexibility is not there and one is not comparing like with like nationwide.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Current Housing Demand: Discussion (Resumed) (7 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Yes, I accept that.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (13 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will repeat many of the points made by previous speakers. When I raised the issue of housing on Leaders' Questions two weeks ago the Taoiseach agreed with me that there is a housing crisis. I expected the Government to provide a comprehensive response to this crisis. What we have seen thus far, however, is thoroughly inadequate. It is heart-breaking that Deputies are unable to suggest...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (13 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I agree. This is a serious problem. The issue of staffing cannot be viewed one dimensionally. Workforce planning is required to identify who will deliver the housing assistance payment scheme. Limerick City Council is supposed to have developed a business plan for this scheme. When I asked who was drawing up the plan, I was informed that it is not yet complete. As such, we do not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Adoption Legislation (13 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 109. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his response to the Adoption Rights Alliance recommendations on updating adoption legislation; his views on the recommendation that a statutory inquiry into illegal adoption practices be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21048/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection (13 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 116. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the serious and worsening child welfare issue being caused by the large number of families who have been made homeless in the past year and who continue to be made homeless; his Department's responsibilities with regard to ensuring children are not placed at risk by being forced to seek accommodation in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (13 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an ABA school (details supplied) will be permitted to avail of the July education programme for students with learning difficulties or autism; the arrangements that are being made to expand the scheme to all schools catering for children with such conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21372/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 445. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to the recent publication of the National Reform Programme 2014, if he is currently lobbying the European Commission for an overall reduction in Ireland's headline 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21018/14]

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 21. To ask the Minister for Health to set out the evaluation carried out to determine the cost implication to the Health Service Executive of withdrawing a discretionary medical card where the patient concerned is likely to go on to require acute hospital care for a chronic condition; if he has readily available figures to demonstrate that the economic saving of taking away medical cards from...

Other Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: We can only say what we see ourselves. A particular case which I believe highlights it very well is that of a family with a little girl who has cerebral palsy. She has just turned five. A little over a year ago, after providing very significant information, she received a medical card on discretionary grounds which was issued for three years but was reviewed less than a year later and is...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I spoke last night about the housing assistance payment provision in this legislation and I will resume on that topic in a few minutes. I wish to speak briefly about some of the other elements of the legislation. I refer to the tenant purchase scheme by which over the years there has been large-scale selling of local authority housing. One scheme was referred to as the sale of the century...

Leaders' Questions (14 May 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Commentary on the Guerin report has rightly focused on the failings of the Garda Síochána on specific issues and in specific cases. What has gone mostly unremarked upon is the Mr. Guerin's criticism of how a lack of resources has contributed to the problems we are dealing with today. Chapter 2 of the report highlights that no inspector was allocated to Bailieborough Garda station...