Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection John Brady TD has said Minister Regina Doherty is ‘alarmingly clueless’ on JobPath and clearly has no idea what is going on within the scheme.
Speaking during Priority Questions with Minister Doherty this afternoon, Teachta Brady said:
“Today, I raised a number of issues around JobPath and the fact that they have gone beyond what they were initially set up to do.
“JobPath was set up to engage with the long term unemployed and assist them in returning to work. Instead, JobPath is hounding people who are either recently unemployed or are engaged in part-time work and are not unemployed at all.
“Minister Doherty has refuted these claims and insisted that JobPath is only engaging the long term unemployed and anything beyond that would be in breach of their contract with the Department of Social Protection.
“Over the past three months, I have conducted a JobPath Exposed campaign with a ‘Tell Your Story’ element listening to the actual reality on the ground from those who know it best – the participants.
“Through this process, I have ample evidence of people who are only unemployed for a number of weeks or days in some cases, teachers who are subbing, people who have just left college being 'invited' to engage with JobPath. These people are not long term unemployed.
“In the case of teachers who are subbing, they are not unemployed. Some people are in part-time work and this suits them as they can work around raising children, again they are not unemployed yet JobPath is hounding them.
“It is beyond alarming that Minister Doherty has absolutely no idea what Turas Nua and Seetec, who are delivering JobPath are doing. I will be publishing my report on JobPath next week and I expect urgent action to be taken on these private companies.”
Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow john.brady@oireachtas.ie
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Brady gives cautious welcome to Greystones' designation as a rent pressure zone
Sinn Féin Wicklow TD John Brady has given a cautious welcome to the news that Greystones has been designated as a rent pressure zone.
Teachta Brady said;
“While I welcome Greystones' designation as a rent pressure zone, it is clear that the Residential Tenancy Board should be given additional powers and resources to ensure that the designation is being adhered to.
"I have been calling on the Government for months to include Greystones as a rent pressure zone given the rising cost of rents. Minister Murphy rightly says that this is being done in response to exceptional rent increases in Greystones. These rent increases have been as a result of the Government's failure to take steps to address the rent crisis.
“Sinn Féin firmly believes that linking rents to an index such as the Consumer Price Index is one measure that should be adopted.
“We have tabled numerous Bills and amendments calling for the introduction of real rent certainty along these lines. Unfortunately, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have failed to support these measures.
“Tenants also need greater security of tenure. Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy must reconsider the government’s opposition to a Focus Ireland amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act. This measure would prevent buy-to-let landlords, who took advantage of generous tax breaks when purchasing their properties, from issuing vacant possession notice to families when they want to sell the property. This measure alone would prevent more families from going homeless and would keep properties on the rental market.”
Teachta Brady said;
“While I welcome Greystones' designation as a rent pressure zone, it is clear that the Residential Tenancy Board should be given additional powers and resources to ensure that the designation is being adhered to.
"I have been calling on the Government for months to include Greystones as a rent pressure zone given the rising cost of rents. Minister Murphy rightly says that this is being done in response to exceptional rent increases in Greystones. These rent increases have been as a result of the Government's failure to take steps to address the rent crisis.
“Sinn Féin firmly believes that linking rents to an index such as the Consumer Price Index is one measure that should be adopted.
“We have tabled numerous Bills and amendments calling for the introduction of real rent certainty along these lines. Unfortunately, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have failed to support these measures.
“Tenants also need greater security of tenure. Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy must reconsider the government’s opposition to a Focus Ireland amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act. This measure would prevent buy-to-let landlords, who took advantage of generous tax breaks when purchasing their properties, from issuing vacant possession notice to families when they want to sell the property. This measure alone would prevent more families from going homeless and would keep properties on the rental market.”
Monday, 18 September 2017
Commencement of development at Avondale Heights, Rathdrum ‘a step in the right direction’ - Brady
Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has welcomed the commencement of works for the development of homes at Avondale Heights in Rathdrum as ‘a step in the right direction’ at long last.
Speaking following the ‘sod turning’ event this morning, Teachta Brady said:
“I was delighted to attend the sod turning event at Avondale Heights this morning marking the commencement of works for the delivery of badly needed housing in Wicklow.
“There will be 20 units in this the first phase, taking 52 weeks to construct. Overall, there will be 47 units in the development when complete.
“Department of Housing red tape has been rightly criticised for slowing down social housing delivery and this development at Avondale Heights has certainly not been brought about before time.
“We are experiencing a housing crisis that many of us have never witnessed before; this crisis will not be tackled without the building of adequate housing for people who need it.
“I want to commend the staff in the housing section in Wicklow County Council who have worked hard to progress this scheme.
“Today marks a step in the right direction however, it is just that. It is one step but we have a long way to go and many more developments such as Avondale Heights must follow.”
Speaking following the ‘sod turning’ event this morning, Teachta Brady said:
“I was delighted to attend the sod turning event at Avondale Heights this morning marking the commencement of works for the delivery of badly needed housing in Wicklow.
“There will be 20 units in this the first phase, taking 52 weeks to construct. Overall, there will be 47 units in the development when complete.
“Department of Housing red tape has been rightly criticised for slowing down social housing delivery and this development at Avondale Heights has certainly not been brought about before time.
“We are experiencing a housing crisis that many of us have never witnessed before; this crisis will not be tackled without the building of adequate housing for people who need it.
“I want to commend the staff in the housing section in Wicklow County Council who have worked hard to progress this scheme.
“Today marks a step in the right direction however, it is just that. It is one step but we have a long way to go and many more developments such as Avondale Heights must follow.”
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