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LAWLESS WELCOMES NEW RENT PRESSURE ZONES IN KILDARE

James Lawless TD has welcomed the extension of Rent Pressure Zones to large towns in North-East Kildare

“When this scheme was first proposed in December Fianna Fáil were supportive in theory however we did feel it was essential the Greater Dublin area and other urban zones should be covered. In particular I advocated strongly for Kildare North given the massive housing and rental crisis the constituency faces” said Deputy Lawless.

“I am pleased that the pressure has led to these towns now being included as Naas, Sallins, Celbridge and Leixlip are all now certainly experiencing serious rental pressures – all major commuter towns also. However I am disappointed at the omission of Maynooth, Clane and Kill and will continue to make the case for these. Clane in particular has experienced major rent increases in recent years and Maynooth has the added complication of the student demand each autumn.”

“This is a necessary and welcome extension of the rent pressure scheme but ultimately supply side measures are the only way to solve the housing and rental crisis. We need new homes, both social and private, we need lots of them and we need them as soon as possible”

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O’ROURKE WANTS CAR INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS ACTED ON

Fianna Fail’s Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Frank O’Rourke TD has called on the Government to implement the series of recommendations from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance on Motor Insurance, to tackle spiraling motor insurance premiums

‘The Government has made a commitment that the thirty-three recommendations in the report, made by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, are to be implemented by the Government.”

“People in Kildare and indeed right across the country have been grappling with rising motor insurance costs in recent years. The cost of car insurance has risen by over 50% over the last number of years with the last years increase particularly acute, as up to July 2016, motor insurance costs had increased by 38% year-on-year. These increases are unsustainable. Exorbitant insurance costs are putting enormous pressure on household budgets, are costing jobs and putting pressure on for wage increases,’ Continue reading “O’ROURKE WANTS CAR INSURANCE RECOMMENDATIONS ACTED ON”

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LAWLESS SPEAKS ON INSURANCE COSTS IN THE DAIL

James Lawless TD contributed to the Dail debate on Insurance today

His contribution is below :

“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the insurance costs. I want to concentrate on the areas of public liability insurance, health insurance and general insurance. On public liability insurance, much has been made of the recent decision to award €40,000 to a hill walker, which was referred to by my colleagues in their contributions. That has generated a general concern about access to the countryside and walking routes and the fear this may be curtailed with attendant loss to the community and the tourism sector. That would be lamentable but I believe it need not happen.” Continue reading “LAWLESS SPEAKS ON INSURANCE COSTS IN THE DAIL”