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O’ROURKE CALLS FOR INCREASE IN HAP PAYMENTS

Frank O’Rourke TD has called on the Government to increase the Housing Assistance Payments as the costs of renting increases.
“The low level of the supply of the housing units, is fuelling the rising cost of renting a home, and means that the current level of HAP funding is not enough, in many cases, for those seeking accommodation.”
“I know from my weekly clinics that our social housing list is rising most months. Kildare County Council’s housing waiting list has increased by nearly 1800 people in the last 12 months. The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. However, the level of funds under this scheme is not enough.”

Continue reading “O’ROURKE CALLS FOR INCREASE IN HAP PAYMENTS”

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LAWLESS PRESSES FOR REFURBISHMENT OF VACANT UNITS

James Lawless TD has said that the Government needs to prioritise refurbishing vacant units to boost the supply of available accommodation to help tackle the homeless crisis in Kildare

The publication of latest available figures which reveal a 50% increase in the number of people who are homeless between December 2015 and December 2016. There are currently 4,643 adults registered as homeless along with 1,205 homeless families including 2,505 children.

Kildare is one of the highest county’s in the East on the list, excluding Dublin, with 107 people presenting as homeless in the week before Christmas Continue reading “LAWLESS PRESSES FOR REFURBISHMENT OF VACANT UNITS”

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O’ROURKE WELCOMES PROGRESS ON TAKING-IN-CHARGE OF ESTATES

Frank O’Rourke TD has had meetings again in recent days with Kildare County Council on behalf of the Residents regarding having the remaining services in Wolstan Haven & Oldtown Mill in Celbridge taken-in-charge

Frank commented, “I am pleased that this process is progressing well and works are currently been carried out and are near completion by the developer/contractor in relation to the snags which were identified by the Council and Residents. I will continue to make representations on behalf of the Residents and work with the Council until the snagging is complete to enable the Council to advertise these Estates in order for them to go through the statuary process of been taken-in-charge by K.C.C.”

“I look forward to continuing this work with my Colleague Cllr. Michael Coleman until this process is completed.”

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LAWLESS MAKES MAIDEN SPEECH IN THE DAIL

James Lawless made his Maiden Speech in the Dail this evening

The full text of his speech is below :

“In my first contribution in the House and as a fellow Kildare man, I congratulate the Ceann Comhairle on his role. I commend him on the diligence and professionalism he has displayed in office and I wish him well in his role.”

“A number of factors contribute to the housing crisis: purchase and rental affordability; availability; the backlog in social housing; and the lack of private home construction and supply across the board, which are functions of affordability. As a councillor until three weeks ago when I entered the Dáil, the single greatest issue being raised at my clinics on a daily basis was housing. People attended my clinics in a variety of situations but all had the common challenge of lacking a home or roof over their heads. Unfortunately, the only response that I could reasonably provide was that there was no supply, light at the end of the tunnel or stock to be allocated. Housing lists have extended from five years to six, seven or many more years. In some cases, we were fortunate enough to be able to assist a family in getting what was essentially a lucky break but a lucky break is not good enough for what is a basic requirement, namely, providing a family with a home. The majority of families in that situation do not get that lucky break. Indeed, they are sent back from clinics and the housing departments of local authorities to conditions in which they face homelessness or are on the verge of homelessness, staying with their families in overcrowded accommodation and sleeping on mattresses on kitchen floors in a form of hidden homelessness that is not reported in the statistics or on any planning radar. This is not good enough.” Continue reading “LAWLESS MAKES MAIDEN SPEECH IN THE DAIL”

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Nothing in Budget for Renters – Frank O’Rourke

Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate for Kildare North Cllr Frank O’Rourke says he is disappointed that the Government has not introduced new measures in the budget to tackle the soaring cost of rent.

Cllr O’Rourke pointed out that the Government has done nothing to achieve rent certainty, despite Minister Alan Kelly committing just days ago to introduce new measures to that effect.

“It’s disappointing to see that the Government still isn’t taking the housing and rental crisis seriously. The latest figures show that rents have increased by 9% around the country and over 13% in Kildare since January alone. People in rented accommodation are struggling to meet persistently rising rents. Rents in Kildare could rise significantly over the next year due to the Fine Gael and Labours failure to introduce rent certainty measures,” said Cllr O’Rourke. Continue reading “Nothing in Budget for Renters – Frank O’Rourke”