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

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Mental Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is fair enough. That is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Mental Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They can answer as best they can.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are at the end of our annual spring clean month. Many volunteers, amenity trusts and local authorities have done marvellous work across the country in a big clean-up. It is important we say "Well done" to them. Volunteers and those in the amenity trusts are unsung heroes. They are the people who get out and sweep and clean. We need to make sure we give them the praise they deserve. I...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State and welcome him to the Chamber. As a former councillor, in speaking about councillors' conditions I want to highlight an aspect of their work about which we seldom talk. When we hear about the unacceptable figure of 10,000 people who were homeless in the State last month, we are filled with disgust. No one is frustrated more by the figures than the people on...

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There are lots-----

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is right.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We no longer have that.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know.

Seanad: Councillors' Conditions: Statements (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We are counting on the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for Older People: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I was late coming in but I too want to agree with previous speakers. My concern relates to all the Departments. The lack of housing for elderly people is a massive issue. We speak here about all the funding that is meant to be there but it is not there. The grants to local authorities include housing aid for older people and adaptation grants. Grant money is given out at the beginning of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for Older People: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Is he-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for Older People: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: He needs to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for Older People: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Elderly people are looking for them. It has become a massive issue for elderly people and I am sure it will be noted by local authorities. Climate change has resulted in colder weather. I urge the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to put a scheme in place to help local authorities to provide stoves for elderly people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for Older People: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for coming into the House. I know he is a very busy man. It is good to be busy, and I am busy, but it is not good to be busy if nothing is getting done. I am not saying the Minister is doing nothing. Far from it. I know how hard he is working, but I have concerns. Housing is the key issue facing this Government. It is not about personalities. It is about real...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----but that was last year. We actually turned the sods at that time. Work has started on some of the houses - I will give credit where credit is due - but they were last year's targets. I need the Minister to know that. Let us not highlight what many of us believe are targets which fall very far short of our current waiting lists. It is great to have a plan and a goal but as we all...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Hang on. I am getting there. Almost 10,000 people are homeless, more than 3,000 of them are children. We are a rich country so if money is not a problem, what is the problem? Homeless numbers are high. Home building numbers are tens of thousands behind what they should be. Ordinary workers cannot afford a home and those who have secured a mortgage are struggling. We are struggling...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will make a final point about my area. I have addressed this but I am so disappointed. I refer to the number of people in Carlow who are not qualifying to go on the housing list because of the cap of €27,500 per year when the cap in neighbouring counties is €30,000 and €32,000 per year. That is not acceptable. People are becoming homeless because the Minister is not...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----and I know he is trying. I have a lot more to say-----

Seanad: Housing: Statements (25 Apr 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----but I will come back to the Minister. I thank him for taking the time to listen to me.