Mobility Allowance Grant must be replaced without further delay – John Brady TD

Mobility Allowance Grant must be replaced without further delay – John Brady TD

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady TD has called on the Taoiseach to fulfil a commitment he made three years ago in replacing the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant.

Teachta Brady said:

“I raised this issue with the Minister of State Finian McGrath back in June when I was told that the drafting of primary legislation was underway yet, nearly five months later there is no replacement in sight.

“Last week, I questioned the Taoiseach on when the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant will be replaced having been cut with immediate effect in 2013.

“At the time, the Taoiseach had said that the €10.6 million allocated for the two schemes would be ring fenced and he hoped a new legal scheme would be devised in the coming months.

“Three and a half years later, we are without any replacement.

“The thousands of people who relied on these payments to assist with their transport costs have been left in limbo since 2013.

“The Taoiseach failed to address my question as to the whereabouts of the €10.6 million that was supposedly ring fenced for the new scheme that was to be put in place a number of years ago.

“People with disabilities cannot be expected to wait any longer for this scheme. They cannot be fobbed off for another three years waiting for a replacement scheme that is nowhere to be seen.”

Varadkar needs to focus on welfare waiting times rather than leadership bid – John Brady TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection John Brady TD has said that Minister Varadkar has serious questions to answer when it comes to waiting times for social welfare payments.

Teachta Brady said:

“Sinn Féin received the current waiting times for social welfare payments through a recent Freedom of Information request. These waiting times vary but reach as high as 40 weeks.

“Those waiting on the most crucial of payments such as Invalidity and Carers are left waiting for 21 and 40 weeks respectively.

“Other payments include waiting times of 19 weeks for Disability Allowance, 27 weeks for the non-contributory State Pension, with children left to wait 17 weeks for Domiciliary Care Allowance.

“In June, I raised the 19 week wait for Carers Allowance with Minister Varadkar and asked what measures he was taking to tackle this outrageous waiting time. Clearly, there were no measures put in place as this has now jumped to a massive 40 week wait, that's almost one entire year.

“The current waiting times for social welfare payments are absolutely unacceptable. The idea that people who are the most vulnerable in our society are left waiting months for these vital payments is disgraceful.

“Minister Varadkar is clearly spending too much of his time eyeing up his party's leadership position rather than doing his job. Waiting times is something he needs to tackle immediately. I will be writing directly to Minister Varadkar to ask him what he intends to do to improve this situation.”

Yet more FF and FG election commitments fall by the wayside – Brady

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection John Brady TD has said that clear election commitments on the Living Alone Allowance made by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were quickly forgotten.

Teachta Brady said:

“Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil pledged to increase the Living Alone Allowance on an annual basis in their election manifestos yet. This increase was nowhere to be seen in Budget 2017.

“Older people who live alone are among the most vulnerable in our society. Many of them rely solely on their State Pension for income yet, they face the same increased cost of living as all other households.

“We know that additional charges placed on older people such as the family home tax and increased prescription charges have placed a huge burden on our older people. At this time of year, older people see further increased costs with fuel as they try to keep warm in their homes without any increase in the fuel allowance. These costs are made all the more difficult to manage when a person is living alone and in many cases, relying on one source of income. This reality has been ignored in Budget 2017.

“While Fianna Fáil were busy tripping over to each to take credit for the parts of the Budget that were welcome an entire group of older people have been left behind. This is simply another U-turn by Fianna Fáil where yet again, they go against their own party policies.

“In our Alternative Budget, Sinn Féin included an increase of €9 for the Living Alone Allowance monthly; this would make it double what the payment is now. At a time when TDs and Ministers are in line for huge pay rises, older people living alone will see no rise in their allowance whatsoever.”

John Brady TD wishes Katie Taylor well as she embarks on professional career

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady extends his congratulations to Katie Taylor, who hails from his hometown of Bray, as she steps into the professional world of boxing.

Teachta Brady said:

“I was delighted to hear the news this afternoon that Katie Taylor has signed a professional contract with Matchroom Boxing.

“Katie Taylor has been a brilliant ambassador for Wicklow and for Ireland throughout her amateur boxing campaign.

“She has been a fantastic role model for young people all over the country especially, for young girls. This will continue in her professional career.

“Katie’s gold medal at Olympics 2012 is seen by many as the highlight of her amateur career but with that also came six European titles and five world titles. I would class her as one of Ireland’s greatest amateur sporting stars of all time.

“I wish Katie well in her future as a professional boxer. I have no doubt that her successes in the boxing world will continue as she takes this step in her career.

“Next month, Katie will make her debut at London’s Wembley Arena and she will do so with the full support of the people of Bray, Wicklow, and her country.”

Brady welcomes securing of derelict A O'Smith Factory

Wicklow/East Carlow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has welcomed the commencement of works to secure and cleanup the derelict A O’Smith factory on the Boghall Road in Bray and he has said that it’s now time to look at the long term future of the site.

Speaking after the site was finally secured Teachta Brady said “Recently my colleague Cllr Michael O’Connor and I visited the derelict site to inspect the many dangers at the disused factory. We subsequently contacted the council and asked them to ensure the site was completely secured and cleaned up. Thankfully that work has now commenced.”

Cllr Michael O’Connor said “The absentee owners of this property have a legal and moral responsibility for this site, however since AO Smith’s closed in 2005 the owners of the site have imposed 11 years of neglect on the community of Ballywaltrim and Bray. It’s been a battle a day with the owners of the site to take responsibility for it and to ensure it’s properly secured. There is evidence of recent vandalism and drug use and illegal dumping on the site.”

“Children are regularly seen on the site and they run the risk of getting seriously injured as there are many dangers on site. Thankfully the only remaining access into the old factory itself is blocked up now and the site is in the process of being cleaned up.”

Teachta Brady concluded “Now that the site is secured, we need to look at the long term plans for the site. In June Wicklow County Council turned down a planning application for the demolition of the existing buildings on site & the construction of a discount foodstore/supermarket. This 11 year derelict eyesore must be brought to an end. I believe that the site provides an ideal opportunity to bring badly needed employment into the area and I will be doing everything within my power to ensure this happens.” Ends

Minister Varadkar dragging his heels on replacement for JobBridge - John Brady TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection John Brady TD has said that Minister Varadkar could not move any slower when it comes to replacing JobBridge.

Teachta Brady said:

“Sinn Féin welcomes an end to JobBridge just as we welcomed this news back in May when it was first announced.

“Today, five months later, we see another announcement of the end of JobBridge with consultation only now beginning on what will replace it.

“At a recent committee meeting on this very matter Minister Varadkar said that he would ‘have proposals for a replacement scheme for JobBridge in the next few weeks, in October if not in September.’

“I have raised a number of concerns in relation to JobBridge consistently with Minister Varadkar. A recent internal audit report by the minister’s own department has raised issues, not least two marked as of high concern to the department.

“The principles already brought forward by the Labour Market Council on the new programme leave little to be desired. It calls for much of the same – the equivalent of the net minimum wage, to be of shorter duration of six months and to be voluntary. JobBridge 2.0 will not cut it.

“Sinn Féin published an alternative to JobBridge months ago. It is a pity that Minister Vardakar did not see fit to move as quickly. He is dragging his heels on this issue. We can only hope that we do not have to wait another five months.”

Brady expresses concern at sale of Ardmore Studios

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady has expressed his shock at the news that Ardmore Studios in Bray is to be sold as a going concern.

Teachta Brady said:

“Ardmore Studios are internationally renowned as Ireland’s leading provider of film and TV studio infrastructure.

“The Studios is highly regarded by the community in Bray and has been home to hundreds of national and international film and TV productions since it was established in 1958.

“While I accept that the news of this sale comes with an assurance that it will not impact on the day to day running of the studios this provides little comfort.

"Last year, it emerged that a stakeholder in Ardmore Studios had expressed considerable disquiet at plans for key directors in Ardmore to set up a rival studio in Limerick putting both studios in direct competition.

"I believe that the development in Limerick is at an advanced stage and this may raise these past concerns again.

“I am aware that Ardmore Studios are in advanced planning stages with some expansion completed as recently as this year and further expansion to follow. I will do everything within my power to ensure that the valuable site at Ardmore is protected and that zoning remains in place solely for the expansion of film and tv production only.

“I met with Ardmore Studios last year and I fully intend to meet with them on this matter as soon as possible. Any threat to such a significant media hub is of national concern and will be of grave concern particularly, to the people of Bray.