Results 3,981-4,000 of 4,887 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
- 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.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Mental Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the witnesses here today. These are the conversations we need to have. I firmly believe in talking and awareness. The World Health Organization identified mental health as one of the most important public health issues to promote, protect and invest in. We are not doing enough. I agree with the witnesses. I constantly hear about waiting lists, lack of resources and the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Mental Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have one more.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Mental Health Services: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Are the witnesses aware of the self harm intervention project, SHIP, programme for the south east? I thank the witnesses for their time. I know the hard work they do. Mental health is such a massive issue. Most families are affected by it. The services and funding will be crucial. We are all trying to help everybody as best we can.
- 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 (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely. Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also want to address the school builds. I will ask for the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House, if not tomorrow then early next week. I second Senator Grace O'Sullivan in this regard. I have significant concerns about promises being made that seem impossible. Last week, while the schools were on holiday, an announcement was made that a large number of new schools, 42...
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The schools were on Easter holidays the week before last.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Well, the week before that. Many of them were on Easter holiday.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Some 42 schools were announced.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: What about the schools that are incomplete? What about the 30% increase in the use of prefabs between 2015 and 2017? I am sure that the Leader will address that now. Good schools are surviving in substandard accommodation and it is not good enough. The current school building programme is not keeping up with demand. This led to a massive increase in the use of prefab classrooms.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes, I have the figures. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, promised to construct new schools but at the same time deferred vital building works aimed at reducing the need for prefabs. This needs to be addressed. A message was being given that there is a commitment to finish long-promised plans for schools, for the prefabs to be finished and for there to be new classrooms. However, there is no...
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: A school in Bagenalstown has been promised a sports hall for years and is still waiting. It has nearly 700 pupils. Many other works remain to be done and we need to get them finished. It is great to see new schools being built but the Minister also needs to deliver on his commitments to the other schools on which he is not delivering.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government and have met the two Ministers from the Leader's party who made commitments but not one has been delivered on. I have been to every meeting of the committee since I came in here two years ago.
- Seanad: Order of Business (18 Apr 2018)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I tell the truth.