Wicklow County Council adopts The Katie Taylor Bursary Sports Scholarship scheme

Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed the adoption of the Katie Taylor Bursary sports scholarship by Wicklow County Council. The bursary is intended to provide an opportunity to study at third level to persons who may not be in a position to undertake a course of study, because of serious disadvantage. The scholarship is aimed at marking the huge achievement of Katie Taylor at London 2012 by winning a gold medal.

Speaking after the adoption of the sports scholarship scheme Cllr Brady said "After the extraordinary achievements of Katie Taylor at the London 2012 Olympics by winning a gold medal i proposed that Wicklow County Council mark the achievement by putting in place a sports scholarship as a lasting memory of Katies fantastic achievement. In the past Katie has been given the freedom of Wicklow and numerous civic receptions by the County Council. I felt that it would be fitting that something would be put in place to help other people out that may have an outstanding sporting ability but may find it difficult to go on to third level education due to their circumstances."

Cllr Brady continued "My proposal was taken up by the protocol committee and a lot of work was done on the issue by Lorraine Gallagher to get it to this stage. At the council meeting on Monday i was delighted to formally propose the adoption of the Katie Taylor Scholarship which was subsequently unanimously adopted by the council. The bursary will see an award of €1000 to the successful applicant for each academic year over a 3 year period, each year a new applicant will be selected. The primary aim of the bursary is to assist students who face significant barriers to progress in education and is intended for students with outstanding sporting ability." 

Cllr Brady concluded "I believe this is a great initiative that not only marks the achievement's of Katie Taylor at last years Olympics in London but it will help ensure that young people can follow their dreams and ambitions through sport."

Brady tells Bray Town Council not to be hypocrites and to secure their site on Killarney Road

Wicklow Sinn Fein councillor John Brady has told Bray Town Council to secure their site at Kilbride Lodge, which is on the Killarney road. The site is owned by the council and is currently being used for high levels of antisocial behaviour.

Cllr Brady said "I am calling on Bray Town Council to immediately move to secure the old Kilbride Lodge site which is currently being used for antisocial behaviour. The activities on the site are effecting neighbouring houses in both Glenthorn and Ballywaltrim Cottages. The council secured the site a number of years ago under Part V of the Housing Act and had planned on using it for badly needed social housing. Unfortunately the current policies of the Fine Gael, Labour Government have put an end to the construction of new council housing by all local authorities."

Cllr Brady continued "Since the council secured the site it has lay in a state of dereliction and it is currently used for the keeping of horses, drinking parties and illegal dumping. It is also being used to target the nearby houses of Glenthorn and Ballywaltrim Cottages and the residents lives are being made a living hell by the activities on site."

"I am calling on Bray Town Council to immediately have their site secured and cleaned up. The council cant be hypocrites on issues such as this. In the past they have taken action against private landowners under the Derelict Sites Act for having their sites in similar conditions and the council need to lead by example and set standards that they want private landowners to follow."

Cllr Brady concluded "Ultimately i want to see the site developed to meet the high demand for social housing that exists right across Wicklow and i will continue to put pressure on both Fine Gael and Labour to reverse their crazy no build policy. In the past the problem in Bray was the lack of council owned land to develop social housing, that has changed, the council has over the last number of years acquired a number of land banks for that purpose. Whilst we are waiting for a change of policy to allow these sites get developed for the purpose they where obtained, the council need to ensure that their land is not impacting negatively on the community. The council should explore the possibilities of allowing the site to be used by the community in the interim period, it has been suggested that this would make an ideal community allotment and this should be explored." Ends 

Brady calls for an emergency extension to the fuel allowance payment

Wicklow Sinn Fein County Councillor John Brady has called for an
emergency extension to the fuel allowance payment for the elderly and
those in receipt of social welfare payments. Brady wants the
government to reverse the cut of 6 weeks to the payment which was
introduced in Budget 2012.

Brady stated “The fuel allowance payment to the elderly and those on
social welfare is an essential payment of €20 a week to help cover the
cost of heating the family home. The Fuel Allowance season was reduced
by 6 weeks in Budget 2012 from 32 weeks to 26 weeks for all
recipients; it’s now paid for 6 months from mid-October to mid-April.
The last payment is due in two weeks; however there is no end in sight
to the cold weather”

Brady continued “The reduction of 6 weeks for the payment coupled with
higher fuel prices and the coldest March in 50 years has left
vulnerable people struggling to heat their homes.”

Brady went on “It has been estimated that 3,000 excess winter deaths
of people aged over 65 were recorded in Ireland between 2005 and 2009,
over 400 were directly linked to the temperature inside their homes. A
survey released in December found that more than half of older people
in Ireland go without food or clothing in order to meet the costs of
heating their homes. Almost one in ten older people surveyed said they
use their ovens to provide extra heat during cold snaps.”

Cllr Brady concluded “I am appealing to the Minister for Social
Protection Joan Burton to provide an emergency extension to the fuel
allowance. I am also calling on Wicklow Labour TD Anne Ferris to come
out of her self imposed exile and take a stand on this issue. Ferris
had been very vocal on this issue in the past and very critical of the
previous government. However there has been nothing from her in
relation to the cut of 6 weeks to fuel allowance that her government
imposed, she can now make amends for that by demanding an emergency
payment to the most vulnerable.”

Sinn Féin in government will repeal the Family Home Tax – Brady

Sinn Féin in government will repeal the Family Home Tax – Brady

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed the Sinn
Fein bill to repeal the Family Home Tax that was introduced to the
Dail this week and said his party is committed to repealing the tax if
in government after the next general election.

Speaking after the launch of the Financial Local Property Tax Repeal
Bill Councillor Brady said:

“This bill is a key part of Sinn Fein’s alternative to austerity for
lower and middle income families. These families have borne the brunt
of austerity budget after austerity budget under Fianna Fáil and Fine
Gael/Labour.  They need a break.

“This tax was signed off on by Fianna Fáil and has been taken up by
the Fine Gael and Labour. There are a wide range of alternatives as
Sinn Féin has consistently pointed out.

“The method of collection of this new tax is brutal. Those who are
accepted as being unable to pay face a 4% penalty next year while
those who can’t pay but are not recognised as being unable to pay face
a 8% penalty. The government will raid salaries, social welfare
payments and pensions to extract this tax on the family home.

“We know the reality that one in four mortgages are in distress yet
these same households who may be in negative equity and have paid
stamp duty now face this extra tax. That is blatantly unfair.

“We saw in last week’s list of exempted ghost estates just how few
exemptions will be tolerated.

“Sinn Féin in government will repeal this tax. Our bill would refund
the tax paid by citizens for the year in which it is scrapped.

“This bill which has been introduced on the floor of the Dáil this
week and will be debated during our Private Members’ Time at the
earliest opportunity.

“We will continue to campaign across the state to win support for this bill.”

Wicklow Sinn Féin has announced details of its Easter Commemoration.

Wicklow Sinn Féin has announced details of its Easter Commemoration.

Sinn Fein County Councillor John Brady has announced the Wicklow
County Easter commemoration will assemble at Bray Town Hall on Easter
Saturday at 1.30pm and parade to the 1798 monument on Castle Street.

This year's oration will be delivered by Eoin O Broin. Eoin is a Sinn
Fein Ard Comhairle member and Dublin Mid West activist; he is the
author of a number of books and is Sinn Fein political advisor in
Leinster Hse.

Cllr Brady stated "Easter is an important time for Irish Republicans
and we would ask that as many people as possible join with us in what
is the main Easter Commemoration to be held in County Wicklow. We
would also ask that people would wear an Easter Lily as a token of
remembrance to all those who died for Irish Freedom," Clr. Brady said.

Cllr Brady continued “The Wicklow County commemoration this year will
be held in Bray on Easter Saturday 30th March. Everyone is welcome. As
we near the 100th Anniversary of 1916, it is important that as
republicans we keep the memory and the vision of the 1916 Proclamation
alive and part of the politics and discourse of the Irish people. The
vision contained within the proclamation is now more relevant and
required than ever before.”

Distress as Wicklow Housing Adaptation Grant for the elderly and people with disabilities cut by 40%

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has said the cut of 40% to the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, Mobility Aids Grant and Housing Aid for Older People Grant will have a devastating effect on the elderly and people with disabilities. The grant given to Wicklow County Council by the Government has been cut by a staggering €387,676.31 in 2013

Cllr Brady said “This is a serious blow for elderly people and people with a disability. The purpose of the grants are to allow the person adapt or modify their homes to enable them continue living there. In Decembers budget the national allocation was reduced from €54m in 2012 to €35m in 2013. Wicklow County Council received notification of their 2013 allocation on 1st March; it has been cut by a staggering €387,676.31.”

Brady continued “These schemes have provided a life-line in the past to many older people and people with disabilities, it has enabled people who have qualified for the payment to convert downstairs rooms into toilets or shower rooms, or to fit a stair lift.  The means-tested grants can pay up to 95-100% of the cost of the work depending on which grant is applied for. These further cuts will mean that fewer people will be able to afford to adapt or modify their homes this year, the waiting period for funding will get longer, and inevitably people will no longer be able to live in their homes. Instead, some may be forced into residential care.”

“These cuts follow on from other cuts aimed at people with disabilities and the most vulnerable in society, recently the Department of Health announced that it planned on axing the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant for those with disabilities. Fine Gael and Labour are clearly picking on the most vulnerable in our society and are hell bent on forcing the ordinary people of Ireland to hurt the most for the gross mismanagement of the State by Fianna Fail.”

Cllr Brady went onto say “Housing staff in Wicklow County Council have had to take the difficult decision to write out to elderly applicants who had previously applied for funding to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their houses and notify them that their application will not be considered and that the council have to adhere to 3 priority lists circulated by the Department of the Environment on behalf of Minister for housing Jan O’Sullivan.”

Brady concluded “These cuts will clearly affect the most vulnerable people in Wicklow and will inevitably cost the State substantially more if people are forced from their homes and into residential care. I am calling on the 4 Government TDs and Labour and Fine Gael councillors to lobby their Minister for Housing Jan O’Sullivan to reverse these appalling cuts in an attempt to help the elderly and disabled remain living at home where they can have a better quality of life.”

Questions need to be asked as 280 jobs go in Rathdrum-Brady

Reacting to news of 280 job losses in Rathdrum Sinn Féin Councillor
John Brady has asked where exactly is the governments job retention
plan.

Cllr Brady stated “This will be a severe blow to the workers and the
community around the MSD site in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. By the IDA’s
own job multiplier over 100 other local jobs will be affected.
Yesterday we had a succession of government ministers claiming that
their plan was working and the jobs crisis was turning the corner.
That is not the experience of these workers or the growing number of
long-term employed or emigrants."

“Six months ago the Taoiseach, speaking at the MSD sister site in
Ballydine, Tipperary highlighted the signs that the economy was
turning when 70 jobs had been created there. Six months later and the
same company are shredding 280 jobs does the same logic ring true?
It’s important that the needs of the workers are met. It has been
reported that some of these jobs have been lost to Singapore. If this
is the case the government must act to access, as a matter of urgency,
the European Globalisation Fund to assist these workers back into
employment." continued Brady

He went onto say "A number of questions do need to be asked however,
where is the governments job retention plan? 280 workers are going to
be out of a job, we need to know that everything has been done that
can be done by the government and the Minister to ensure these jobs
are retained. Also questions must be asked about support this company
received from state agencies and the value of that support in terms of
jobs creation, retention and displacement."

Cllr Brady concluded "Its important that we remember that there are
real people, families and communities behind the statistics. These job
losses would rip the heart out of any community, but they will be felt
hardest in a rural community such as Rathdrum. Everything must be done
to either retain or have a new buyer brought in and the government
needs to take a lead role in that." Ends

Launch of Wicklow Sinn Fein Family Home Tax campaign timed to coincide with first demand letters from Revenue

Wicklow Sinn Féin has announced a series of public meetings across the
County aimed at opposing the Property Tax and to build a campaign
demanding that the legislation is repealed. The meetings are timed to
coincide with the first letters of demand which are due to be posted
to households from 11th March.

Wicklow Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has said “On Tuesday 12th
March Sinn Féin are launching our campaign against the Family Home
Tax, the launch will take place in the Royal Hotel in Bray and it is
timed to coincide with the first letters of demand from the Revenue
Commissioners which will go in the post to every eligible and some
ineligible households across this state, this will be yet another
demand from a government fixated on austerity and implementing the
failed policies of Fianna Fáil.”

Councillor John Brady has said “The family home tax will be the last
straw for many struggling families across Wicklow. This week the
government rushed through the second piece of legislation on the
Family Home Tax. Once again their arrogance resulted in little or no
debate on the most important issue facing many people. This cabinet
with their large salaries will not feel the effect of this new tax but
hundreds of thousands of others in mortgage arrears, unemployed or
simply struggling month to month will feel it acutely. The government
needs to get out of their comfortable seats and recognise this fact.”

“Sinn Féin is the only party with a clear and consistent opposition to
a Family Home Tax. This is an unfair tax which takes no regard to
stamp duty paid, management fees or ability to pay in most cases. Sinn
Féin is determined to see this tax repealed rather than simply
tinkered with. We have shown how an alternative Wealth Tax would be a
fairer alternative which would not dampen the domestic economy.”

Brady continued “Recently 70,000 homeowners heard that the AIB will be
increasing their variable mortgage interest rates. This comes at a
time when one in four mortgages are in distress. The last thing the
180,000 mortgage holders in distress need is another letter bearing
unsustainable demands. For the 1.8 million people left with €100 or
less at the end of the month after essential bills are paid this will
be the tipping point. The property tax letter from Revenue to
householders will only add financial stress and hardship to families
across the state. There is no sense in taxing the family home.”

Cllr Brady concluded “Sinn Féin will launch a bill in the coming weeks
which would repeal the Family Home Tax. We are calling on all parties
to reflect on what receiving the letter on the week of the 11th of
March will mean for working people and to lend their support to our
repeal bill before it’s too late. The reality of this unfair tax is
now dawning on people who have already shouldered austerity budget
after austerity budget. On Tuesday 12th March Wicklow Sinn Féin will
launch our campaign to repeal the Property Tax. This will be followed
by a number of other public meetings that have been organised across
Wicklow which include, The Arklow Bay Wednesday 20th March. The Corner
House, Carnew, Thursday 21st March both at 8pm.” Ends

Huge crowd turns up for public meeting to save the 145 Bus to Kilmacanogue

Over 150 people crammed into The Glencormack Inn in Kilmacanogue on
Monday evening to attended a public meeting which was organised by
Sinn Fein Councillor John Brady. The meeting was called to discuss the
plans by Dublin Bus to curtail the 145 Bus route that serves to
village of Kilmacanogue and the surrounding area. The meeting agreed a
community campaign of opposition to any plans to cut the widely used
and highly regarded route.

Cllr Brady said "Such is the concern of the people of Kilmac and the
surrounding area about the plans by Dublin Bus regarding the 145 bus,
a huge crowd turned up to the public meeting i had organised on Monday
evening. Unfortunately large amounts of people had to be turned away
because the room in the Glencormack Inn was full to capacity. It was
outlined that Dublin Bus are currently looking at the possibility of
stopping the 145 which currently runs to Kilmac at Springfield
Cemetery in Bray and that officials are currently exploring the
options"

Cllr. Brady went onto say "Many people spoke on the night about the
excellent service the 145 is and how the village of Kilmacanogue and
surrounding areas depend heavily on it. It provides a vital link to
the schools, shops and other transport links in the Bray area and how
Kilmac is cut off with no footpaths linking it to other areas such as
Bray. People spoke very passionately about the service and they are
very determined that the route will remain and they wont allow any
watering down of the service. A number of issues were identified on
the night that could be addressed to improve the service and myself
and the other public representatives that were present pledged to
follow those up at council level."

Cllr Brady continued "It was agreed on the night that a meeting with
representatives from Dublin Bus would be requested and a number of
people from the community agreed to make up the deputation to meet
them. A petition outlining the communities opposition to any cuts to
the 145 was launched on the night and its planned this will be handed
over to Dublin Bus when the meeting takes place."

Cllr Brady concluded "The community of Kilmac are certainly pulling
together to protect the 145 and the resolve shown at the meeting on
Monday typifies what communities are about. I know Dublin Bus will
have a fight on their hands if there are intent on going ahead with
any plan. However we have a very strong argument as to why the route
should be protected and hopefully we can get to put these points
across when we meet them and that they will be taken on board." Ends

An online copy of the petition has also been launched:
www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-the-145-bus-to-kilmac/

Brady concerned about the future of St. Catherine's as at least 30 staff have contracts terminated

Sinn Féin Councillor John Brady has expressed serious concerns about the future of St. Catherine's Association which is based in Newcastle and provides care to clients who have intellectual and other disabilities. Staff at the HSE funded unit were informed today that the contracts of 30 staff members who where on temporary contracts would end in a months time and they would not be extended or replaced. More meetings are due to be held with respite staff and other staff members over the next few days and it appears others staff members are to be cut too.

Cllr John Brady said "I have real concerns about St. Catherine's and their ability to maintain the excellent level of service and care they provide here in Wicklow. Staff members were called into a number of meetings on Tuesday and 30 staff members on temporary contracts were given 1 months notice that their contracts would be ceasing. During the course of the day other meeting were planned with respite staff and others. At this moment we don't have a full picture as to how many staff will go or how many will remain, but its safe to say this is devastating news for everyone connected with St. Catherine's. I also feel deeply for the staff and their families whose contracts are to be terminated, they have given many years service to the people of Wicklow and everything must be done to try save the positions."

Cllr Brady continued "St. Catherine’s Association is a non-profit making organisation which provides education, training, healthcare and residential/respite care to clients who have intellectual and other disabilities. St. Catherine’s Association is funded substantially by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide a range of services to families in County Wicklow. These services include Early Intervention for children from birth to age six, Pre-Schools, National School, Respite/Residential living, Outreach, Nursing, Speech & Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Positive Behaviour Support, Occupational Therapy, Transport and other supports."

Brady went on to say "St. Catherine's currently meets the needs of over 250 children and families in County Wicklow and cuts over the last number of years have made things difficult. However the loss of any staff will have an impact and cuts of such a large number is bound to have a detrimental impact. I am planning on having the issue raised in the Dáil with the Minister and i am looking for a full statement on the matter from the HSE."

Cllr Brady continued "These cuts will impact on the most needy in our society here in Wicklow and i am calling on Wicklow's 4 government TD's to intervene immediately to stop these jobs losses that will devastate the excellent service that's provided by St. Catherine's."

Despite the spin the Anglo Irish Promissory deal is a bad one thats clearly Frankfurts way

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady, has said that the
government’s “much-hyped deal on the Anglo Irish promissory note
doubles the cost to the taxpayer of bailing out Anglo Irish Bank and
straddles our children with a massive debit. Despite the spin the
Irish Government without even asking for a write-down has given into
Frankfurts way.”

Cllr Brady said “When you cut through all the spin and hype of the so
called deal on the Anglo Irish promissory note is bad for the
taxpayer. The Government have traded the €28bn promissory note debt
for a sovereign liability to the state of up to €60bn. Rather than
seek a write down in the debt the government has kicked the debt can
further down the road. In doing so, it has cranked up the long-term
costs to the state. This debt will now not only be paid by this
generation of citizens but by our children and our children’s
children, for the next 40 years."

Cllr Brady continued “While it may provide the state with some short
term deficit relief it significantly increases the cost of bailing out
Anglo Irish Bank. Across the country today ordinary people are asking
themselves has the debt been reduced and will it mean less tax hikes
and spending cuts next year and the years after that. The answer to
the first question is an unequivocal ‘no’. The answer to the second
question is not yet clear and will be determined following discussions
with the Troika."

Cllr Brady went onto say "It not surprising that the establishment are
trying to build this up as something that it’s not. Sinn Féin has been
consistent since we first raised the issue of the unfair Promissory
Notes payments. They should not be paid. They are not the people’s
debt, not our debt. Extending an unfair repayment period does make a
debt fair or just. When the first payment on Promissory Notes was paid
in 2011, only Sinn Fein members raised the issue in this House. Fianna
Fail didn’t raise a whimper. The first vote ever in Leinster House on
Promissory Notes was called by Sinn Féin. We have been clear on this
and consistent. Others can defend themselves. The people know where
Sinn Fein has stood on this issue. This is Fianna Fáil’s legacy to the
Irish people. This €48 billion debt was taken on by cabinet in which
Michael Martin sat and did not object, by a government in which
Michael McGrath diligently supported to the very bitter end. Today
however it become as much a Fine Gael and Labour party debt as it is a
Fianna Fail one. It is a debt created by bankers and criminals which
we the people are paying off and after this charade is over it will be
more difficult than n ever for the people to throw this debt off.

Brady concluded “This week the government had a historic opportunity
to secure a real reduction in the cost of the toxic banking debt
foisted on the people by Fianna Fáil. Not only have Fine Gael and
Labour wasted that opportunity, they have increased the cost of that
burden for decades to come.”

Keeping Communities Safe document will lead to a poorer Fire Service in Wicklow

Wicklow Sinn Féin and the Irish Fire and Emergency Services
Association (IFESA) are jointly holding a public meeting to discuss
the fire service in Wicklow and the impact that the new Government
policy will have on Wicklow. The new policy was enacted by Minister
Phil Hogan, T.D. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local
Government on the 7 February, 2013. The new national policy which is
to be implemented immediately is based on the “Keeping Communities
Safe” (KCS) document which is the blueprint for the future direction
of the fire service. The public meeting will take place on Monday 18
February at 8pm in the Royal Hotel, Bray

Cllr Brady said" There is a lot of concern around the direction the
government is taking the fire service. The Keeping Communities Safe
document which is the blueprint for the future direction of the fire
service was officially adopted by the government as policy on 7
February. I had asked that any new proposals should not be implemented
while the reasons for the deaths of two Bray Fire fighters remain
unknown 5 years on, however this unfortunately fell on deaf ears."

Cllr Brady continued "There is a real fear that the new policy which
is contained in the Keeping Communities Safe document will result in
the loss of hundreds of front line fire fighter posts around the
country, with over a 100 posts being lost in Dublin Fire Brigade
alone. These plans if implemented will see fire fighter numbers
reduced and fire stations closed, it will also seriously restrict the
type of emergency the service can respond to, this in turn will
compromise the safety of the public and communities throughout the
country. Both SIPTU and IFESA who represent front-line fire fighters
have serious concerns about these plans and their members are being
balloted for industrial action such are their concerns."

"Wicklow Sinn Féin and  IFESA are holding a public on Monday 18
February in the Royal Hotel, Bray to discuss the impact this new
policy will have on the service in Wicklow. As we already know the
service in Wicklow has serious issues and the fear is this will
compound those problems and lead to greater risk for both the public
and front line fire fighters."

"Speakers on the night will include IFESA National Vice Chairman, Ros
Mac Cobb and Margaret Cahill who has been campaigning for a full time
fire service in Bray since the death of her sister Teresa and her
13-months-old baby boy Chris in a fire in the Oldcourt Estate in Bray
12 years ago."

NAMA confirms it has No properties in Wicklow suitable for Social Housing

Sinn Féin councillor John Brady has called on the Fine Gael/Labour
Government to change their failed social housing policy and to bring
forward a Social Housing Initiative to allow the immediate
commencement of the construction of social housing projects across the
Country to help try resolve the housing crisis in Wicklow. His appeal
to the Government follows confirmation from NAMA that there are no
suitable housing units for social housing on their books in Wicklow.
The Government has said it expects to reach its target of getting
2,000 residential units from NAMA across the state for social housing.

Cllr Brady said "Their is a serious housing crisis in Wicklow and the
current housing policies of Fine Gael/Labour are compounding the
problems for families who are on housing lists with the local
authorities in Wicklow. The Government has adopted a policy of
building no more council houses, this is partially because of the
number of vacant properties across the state on the books of the
National Asset Management Agency (NAMA). However following a question
i had submitted to Wicklow County Council it has been revealed there
are no suitable housing units in Wicklow currently held by NAMA."

Cllr Brady continued "A total of 27 properties, in 3 estates in County
Wicklow were initially identified as potentially suitable for Social
Housing in 2012. 2 of the estates are in Bray and 1 in Greystones.
After further investigation by the Housing Agency, none of the
properties have been deemed suitable for social housing. The estate in
Greystones and one of the Bray estates are no longer available and the
remaining estate in Bray is not suitable due to the size of the
properties."

"There are over 5,000 families on housing waiting lists in Wicklow,
families are now being told that it could be 10-12 years before they
are even considered for a council house. This is completely appalling,
I have always argued that Wicklow is not like other Counties, we don't
have expanses of ghost estates across the County that can be used for
social housing and this has now been proven in the response i have
received. The other Government housing initiatives have also failed
completely. Private landlords have not signed up to the Rental
Accommodation Scheme (RAS) in the numbers they were hoping and only 1
build to lease scheme has progressed in the County, this is mainly
because developers cant secure the funds to progress any major housing
developments. Many people in receipt of rent allowance are now in dire
straits because their allowances have been cut and their landlords are
simply refusing to reduce rents to reflect the reduction, this has
resulted in many families being forced from their rented properties
and desperately looking for a council house."

Cllr Brady went onto say "The current Government policy of not
building any more social housing is a flawed one. Over the last 5-10
years the local authorities in Wicklow have spent millions of Euro
purchasing land for housing, 2 sites alone cost Bray Town Council and
Wicklow County Council over € 9 million, the plans for hundreds of
houses have been drawn up at great expense by the councils in Wicklow,
but unfortunately these plans have been shelved by the Government and
the local authorities have been told that there will be no council
houses built for at least the next 2 years."

Cllr Brady concluded "Over 5,000 families in Wicklow are on the
housing list in Wicklow. It is safe to say their is a housing crisis
and the current Government policy is adding to this crisis. We don't
have the vacant ghost estates like other Counties and the response
from NAMA proves that. The Labour Minister for Housing Jan O'Sullivan
must look at the failed policy of not building council houses and
reverse it. What is required is a Social Housing Initiative, this will
stimulate the building and construction industry, both through funding
additional dwellings and increasing expenditure on repairs and
maintenance. This will help stimulate businesses which supply
construction materials and help to retain jobs in the industry and
also house the thousands of families currently lingering on lengthily
housing lists. The Minister has up until now refused to met public
representatives from Wicklow, I intend on writhing to the Minister and
asking her again to meet a delegation from Wicklow and i will be
requesting special meetings of the councils to take place to address
the housing crisis in Wicklow."