Results 481-500 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am not sure if this is in the Central Bank's remit but I think that it is also crucial that the entire country be represented. I know that I am always saying this, but Dublin, Cork and Limerick are always mentioned. If this scheme does go ahead there needs to be some regulation to ensure that the whole country is affected. That will be crucial for rural Ireland. For me, that is vital. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I hope so.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I want to speak about the Citizens' Assembly, which met this weekend, in terms of elderly people. I have had many concerns expressed in my clinic by people who had to retire at 65. They then claim jobseeker's benefit from the Department of Social Welfare, which is €188. However, until they actually turn 65 and transfer to the old age pension, which is €230, they are at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (11 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the witnesses for addressing us today. I am not here on a regular basis but I am just here because I have massive concerns about the bus system. My main concern is about national policies, and it has been mentioned that they were changed in 2011 and 2012. There is no appeal system. I have told people not to appeal decisions. Within my area of Carlow and Borris-Myshall, the people...

Seanad: Equality of Access to Education: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Most of the Senators have already raised my concerns. I view this matter differently because I am a parent who has sent her four children to third level education. I believe in free education but, unfortunately, there is no such thing. Primary school education is under-resourced and parents are seeking help. Secondary school students use iPads but, unfortunately, most families cannot...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (13 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am, however, a little disappointed, although I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. The capitalisation for the ECCE scheme needs to be significantly increased. The higher grant is €75 per week per child, but it still does not cover the cost of providing the service. Many services are facing closure as a result of the lack of funding. Parents have to send their...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (13 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is unacceptable. Why is rural Ireland forgotten again? Why are we left out?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (13 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay. I have more to say, but I appreciate the Minister of State coming in and ask that she reply to these are very serious issues. I believe crèches will close if these issues are not sorted.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education Funding (13 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State. We all know affordable child care is crucial for families. It is also important for the providers. I am disappointed, however. The fact the Minister, Deputy Zappone, did not do a review before she announced or launched anything, which is her second or third time doing so, does not seem right. There is €466 million and it is crucial that the families...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board: Chairperson Designate (13 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Mr. Keyes for his statement. He is a very busy man and I am beginning to wonder how he fits everything in. Reference was made to everything depending on funding. Total applications are shown in the statement as numbering 1,798 and the number of dwellings currently being worked on is 127. This is a huge gap between the figures. What is the procedure and how does the board...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board: Chairperson Designate (13 Jul 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Is there a constant flow of funding? Does the board have to apply to the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Report: Dr. Mary Murphy and Dr. Rory Hearne, NUI Maynooth (20 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree totally with Deputy Casey, and I agree with the points made by the witnesses. The private rented market has been taken away from local authorities. If one wants to apply for housing assistance payment, HAP, one has to go to Cork. If one wants to get on the housing list, one might be waiting for up to six weeks before getting an appointment. In an emergency, that should be done...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Dublin Regional Homless Executive (20 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with previous speakers on the housing assistance payment. Things need to be clarified. The HAP forms go to the landlord and then to Cork, because it has left local authorities. I have massive issues with that. All the HAP applications should be left with the 31 local authorities. When put on the HAP, there was a question on the form asking if the applicant wanted to stay on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome everyone back after our summer break. I am sure we were all doing clinics and were very busy. I want to raise the matter of local government funding. As Senators are aware, the 31 local authorities are preparing for the budget. We are also aware that each local authority has to have its local property tax budget meeting over by the end of September. I have massive concerns...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As Members will be aware, this week has been designated Positive Aging Week. People are living longer. The Budget Statement will be announced in two weeks time and we will be looking for a fair budget for older people, a budget that recognises the contributions made in the past decades by more than 600,000 workers, those who worked in the home and in business who are all now pensioners....

Seanad: Housing: Statements (28 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This is my second time to address the Minister today. I know how hard he works and it is important that we all work together to ensure homelessness can be sorted. It is a year since the Government launched its Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. Recent trends include the lack of progress on new social housing construction, continued rent inflation, reduced rental...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (28 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I feel that too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for attending this morning. It was great to see him in Carlow. It is welcome to see houses being built but my biggest issue is that we do not get a timescale in that regard. The two housing estates the Minister was launching were brought to the local authorities two years ago. We are now two years on and a brick has not been laid on those two sites, although I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The fact that we seem to be promoting Clúid and Respond! housing. Even in my local area, it is all Clúid and Respond! co-operative housing. That seems to be the way forward. We are not building enough social houses and that is an issue. I believe the Department is pushing those bodies. The credit unions with their loans are working more through those agencies than they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Tenants cannot own the home.