Results 621-640 of 1,383 for speaker:Eileen Flynn

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank everyone who presented this morning. The committee is about trying to get action that will better the lives of the Traveller community. I apologise for being late. I am learning to drive and took every wrong turn possible in the city. I will now open the discussion to members.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank the Deputy. I know that Deputy Stanton has to leave soon, so we might hear from the Deputy and then the witness can answer both at the same time. Would that be okay? Okay.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Ms Timmons might address the Deputy’s questions first.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: The loans were up to €40,000, but were the caravans that were purchased sustainable, of good quality and worth the value of those loans?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I am just following up on the Deputy’s question, although I know I should not.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: That money also covers refurbishment and installation of the caravans. Ms Timmons gave a figure of over €6,000.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I know that Deputy Ó Cuív is right because on the ground National Traveller MABS knows. Last year, a huge amount of people contacted me with issues concerning the Traveller caravan loan schemes. Traveller people call these units trailers and not caravans. Having listened to the people on the ground, I know there is demand for good quality trailers and I think everyone on the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Even though the two Deputies who spoke have left, do any of our guests wish to respond?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: We had the young group from Tipperary in Leinster House last year. Some children have never left their counties. It is great to be able to give kids the opportunity to come in to visit. This specific committee is about accommodation, which is important, but some kids in all the counties are still getting colouring in to do and the reduced timetable. We still have a lot to do in education...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Is this "new" news, if that makes any sense? I did not hear that Spring Lane was being redeveloped until now. I know there was a lot of work going on, so that is brilliant news for the community there. As a committee, we obviously welcome that as well. I have done work with Ann Burke and Thomas over the summer too. Not fit for purpose for any human to live on is the best way I can...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: We as a committee are really focused on getting at least some of the 84 recommendations from the previous committee implemented. The most important issue for us is accommodation because it impacts your health, mental health, well-being and opportunities to go to school, etc. It is unfortunate that a year since the previous committee, nothing has been implemented around our suggestions on...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: It is really about local authorities coming together and implementing actions. In Labre Park yesterday, I was so shocked.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: If you have it. I do not want this to be a football between us because that is not what this committee is for. It is just so run-down and vulnerable people are on the site. Some of the top of the site was redeveloped - I get that - but the entrance going into Kylemore Grove and the whole site itself are run down. It is the same or similar in St. Margaret's. In the TAP and local traveller...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: That is the case not just for one, but for many halting sites around the country. The redevelopment of Spring Lane is really welcome. Do any of the officials have anything to add?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: On the horses, the Tipperary Rural Traveller Project has a horse association project. We might look at getting some people from it in. It looks at Traveller men taking ownership of the horses, looking after them and paying a little fee of say, €2 or €3 per month to be part of the association. I know from the project that it is working very effectively and is creating...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Yes. I thank the officials for coming. For us as a committee it is about looking for those solutions and seeing how we can implement the recommendations of the previous committee. I have no doubt we will have some of the officials back in front of the committee again. There is a lot to think about and to go back to the different Departments about, such as when we speak to MABS and so on....

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I know the halting sites at St. Margaret's and Finglas fairly well. There have been issues with the caravans that have been allocated in the halting sites. Some of them already needed a little refurbishing when people were living in them. I know of that. Again, some of the caravans and trailers that are being given to families are not even two or three years old but it is about their...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Accommodation for Travellers: Discussion (21 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I will speak to the Deputy's point around energy and people not getting their fuel allowance. To date, more than 300 Travellers have not received their €600. That is the €200, the €400 and the €200 from last year. That is appalling. Some work has been going on with National Traveller MABS. However, it is the meters. The money is coming from local authorities....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Before I begin I want to say my comments are not personal to anybody at the table. I want people to know this. I am absolutely blue in the face from strategies that have not worked for many communities in this country. In the next 30 to 40 years, we will look back on how we treated people and children with disabilities and how we failed them. I am sure to God the Government will owe these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: National Disability Inclusion Strategy: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Yes.