Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, wish to add my voice of support to Senator Bacik's call today for those with cystic fibrosis.

I welcome the announcement of €127 million that is being made available through the European Regional Development Fund. In particular, I welcome the €2 million grant assistance awarded to Dundalk to rejuvenate the centre of the town. It is badly needed. I look forward to the plans that have now been put in place.

I wish to raise the ongoing issue of accessibility. This is relevant in all the plans in all the hub towns for which this money has been announced this morning. Accessibility and plans for appropriate accessibility are necessary. By this I mean to need to communicate and consult with people who have accessibility and mobility problems. These are the people best placed to comment on the matter. I am calling for all people to be consulted, whatever town the work is being carried out in and specifically in my town of Dundalk. Mobility and accessibility are major issues.For example, I brought a group from the Irish Wheelchair Association in Ardee to the Oireachtas this afternoon. The ushers have gone to a great deal of trouble to ensure that the eight or ten wheelchair users are accommodated.

Senator Keane referred to last night's programme on people living in emergency accommodation. Unfortunately, I have not seen it yet, although I have heard today's comments and look forward to catching up on it. Everyone is discussing the issue. People were moved on from a halting site in Dundalk on Friday. There has been mention of rehousing and emergency accommodation. Recently, three families that are in close contact in Dundalk have approached me. One will be evicted on Friday because the landlord is selling the house and there is no rent control. The family has been informed that the father will be sent to the Simon Community and the children will be put into care. That is unacceptable. All that such families have done is to be unable to find accommodation where rent allowance or housing assistance payment, HAP, is accepted.