News

Proposed taxi regulations are disproportionate and at odds with Constitution – Ellis

February 20, 2013 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

February 19, 2013

Sinn Fein transport spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has described the new proposed taxi regulations as “disproportionate and repugnant to our Constitution”.
He made his comments when raising the concerns of many drivers, former republican prisoners, who work as taxi drivers.
Deputy Ellis continued:
“These regulations could see many former political prisoners barred, disqualified or suspended from the industry and without a livelihood despite having worked as drivers for years without any problem.
“This state, with the backing of the people in a referendum signed up to the Good Friday Agreement which recognised the special circumstance of the conflict.
“It also recognised that those imprisoned for offences directly related to the conflict were not ordinary prisoners and should be afforded special attention to aid reintegration into society and the securing of gainful employment.
“I also believe this measure is at odds with the constitution and its recognition of an individual’s right to a livelihood or property rights.
“A similar regulation was been attempted in the north of Ireland but was defeated with a former republican prisoner took a case to the High Court. If Minister Alan Kelly will not accept our points on this issue then I expect this to be the outcome again and this section of the Bill will be rendered null and void.
“I am very disappointed by the minister’s response. He completely ignored the Good Friday Agreement which his government is bound by. It is a disgraceful approach to such an important agreement and I hope he will reconsider as we continue to debate.
“Anyone convicted of an offence directly related to the conflict should, under the agreement this state signed up to be supported in getting employment, not thrown out of work as this Bill does. I recognise this government did not sign the agreement but it is time they started living up to it.”
ends

Filed Under: Transport

Sinn Féin Dáil motion on social housing shortage launched

February 16, 2013 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

February 15, 2013

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has called on the Minister for Housing to take immediate action to deal with the continuing crisis in social housing with nearly 100,000 people on the state’s housing waiting lists and deteriorating public housing leading to health concerns.

His made his comments as he and finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty TD, launched the Sinn Féin motion, to be tabled next week in the Dáil, dealing with the shortage in social housing and mortgage distress.

Deputy Ellis continued:

“This motion is an important step in raising the many problems that continue in social housing in this state and takes the government to task on their inaction in dealing with the crisis.

“There are 98,000 households on waiting lists for Local Authority Housing in this state. These people are living in cramped unsuitable conditions and in the current system will be waiting a very long time to be housed appropriately.

“There are 94,000 people receiving Rent Supplement and 23,000 in the Rental Accommodation Scheme. These cost the state nearly half a billion euro a year but bring us no closer to a long-term sustainable provision of housing.

“The government’s only proposal has been to pass responsibility for social housing onto the private market and give greater workload to the overburdened voluntary sector. They have hailed social leasing from NAMA as a great solution but it will cost the state considerably and has only delivered 179 homes in three years.

“We need the state to make a real commitment to providing social housing and recognising the people’s right to housing. We have outlined already how funding could be secured for the building of thousands of homes which would create employment and give a decent home to tens of thousands of people. The minister must listen to our proposals and treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.

“Funding is laid out in our Jobs Creation document released late last year.”

Filed Under: Ballymun, Drumcondra, Economy, Finglas, Housing

Over three years of NAMA and just 179 homes delivered for social housing – Ellis

February 7, 2013 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has described progress on social housing from NAMA properties as very disappointing. He made his comments in response to a parliamentary question which found that just 179 homes have been delivered for social housing despite NAMA being in existence since late 2009 and its many commitments to providing a social dividend.

Deputy Ellis continued;

“This just isn’t good enough. I welcomed the renewed commitment by NAMA last year to provide 3,949 units for use for social housing but so little has been delivered in a time when housing waiting lists are bursting at the seams and people are finding it harder to keep their home or to afford spiralling rents.

“The social lease system pursued by the government is a lucrative one for developers within NAMA who will have their properties’ rents hassle free and will be returned their properties once the lease ends. These are developers who have been bailed out by the people already and are being fed by NAMA but have repaid nothing in the way of social dividend.

“Thousands of NAMA units which could be new homes for people who have been waiting years are lying idle. The Minister for Housing and the department need to get tough with developers and NAMA and to ensure this is delivered on soon. We cannot let another year go by where NAMA houses only a handful of people. We have waited long enough.

“The minister must also pave the way to allow local authorities to take over unfinished estates which have no bond and are in the control of a financial institution or NAMA so that these sites can be completed and people can finally be housed. This is all about the political will to provide much needed housing, either the government has it or it doesn’t.”

Filed Under: Ballymun, Drumcondra, Housing, Santry, Whitehall

Issues with Greyhound

February 4, 2013 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Please see below response regarding issues we raised with National consumer Agency about the service Greyhound are providing.

In relation to Greyhound Waste Collection, the NCA is currently engaging with the waste collection sector as a whole in relation to several issues. With regard to Greyhound Waste, we have received a commitment from the company that it will amend certain terms in it’s standard consumer contract which the NCA thinks are unfair to consumers. This commitment was made in an Undertaking to the Agency signed on 19th December, 2012 (a link to relevant information on our website is attached below). This Undertaking committed Greyhound to refunding those consumers who have already had credit balances forfeited. From 18th January, 2013, the company’s new terms and conditions state at 10.5 that “Any credit balance in the customer’s account will be refunded in the event that the contract is terminated , by either party within the 12 month period”. However, it should be noted that no timeframe for refunds is mentioned.

Filed Under: Ballymun, Drumcondra, Finance, Finglas, Santry, Whitehall

Council tenants can’t bare cost of Home Tax – Ellis

January 23, 2013 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Council tenants can’t bare cost of Home Tax – Ellis

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has called on the government to support his party’s amendment to exclude local authority housing from property liable to pay the Home Tax. He made his comments following reports that tenants could see a rise in council rents as a result.

Deputy Ellis said:

“Sinn Féin are opposed to this unfair tax on family homes but we are particularly concerned by the foolish move to levy the tax on social housing.

“Council tenants are not in any position to pay higher rents. The vast majority are scraping to survive these very hard times. Many have already been cut numerous times.

“This tax is supposed to be about funding local services but in fact it will cost Local Authorities large sums and take up resources determining the value of around 125,000 properties across the state.

“The government must accept this point and amend their bill accordingly. Otherwise the family home tax will be an even greater mess than envisaged.”

ENDS

Filed Under: Ballymun, Finance, Housing

Rent increase with no return: Ellis

December 7, 2012 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Dessie Ellis TD slammed plans to apply the new family home tax to local authority and voluntary housing which could see higher rents for struggling tenants.
Deputy Ellis continued:
“The plan to apply this unfair tax on houses in the social housing system makes no sense and is completely counterproductive.
“Social housing was cut in the budget as were supports which many tenants rely on. It has been a terrible budget for the poorest in our society and now many will face a rent increase with no return.
“Local authorities who were meant to gain from the tax will have to pay around €25 million. This makes no sense and will weaken local authorities and voluntary housing bodies and hurt their tenants.
“This is an unfair tax plan to begin with but it is an outrage that the government have not exempted social housing.
“Sinn Féin proposed a progressive wealth tax which would have avoided this problem. We will continue to fight the home tax for a genuine tax on wealth”

Filed Under: Ballymun, Drumcondra, Economy, Finance, Housing, Local News

Budget is more than motorists can bear -Ellis

December 6, 2012 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Budget is more than motorists can bear -Ellis

December 5, 2012

Deputy Ellis continued:

“Over the last few years the cost of staying on the road for many motorists has climbed considerably while public transport alternatives have also risen in cost and services have been cut.

“Many people are left with no alternative but to use private transport and they are being forced to pay more now for something they have no choice in.

“On average Motor Tax on private cars register from July 2008 will go up by 53 euro a year. Good vehicles needed for doing business, for employing people will be on average taxed 117 euro more a year.

“VRT is also set to go up by as much as 3% making it more difficult for people to upgrade their vehicles to more environmentally and economically friendly vehicles which would be liable for less Motor Tax.

“Ordinary people seeking to drive to work, small businesses seeking to transport their good, even school busses, tractors, hearse and construction vehicles are now less affordable and people are once again hit harder by this government for no other reason than their unwillingness to tackle those on high earnings.” ends

Filed Under: Ballymun, Drumcondra, Economy, Finance

Workshop ‘Financial Health for Low Income Families’ 4th December

November 27, 2012 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Living with Dignity’

Financial Health for Low Income Families

When: Tuesday 4th December 2012

Time: 10am – 13.00pm

Where: Axis Centre

The event will include an input from the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, a presentation on local experiences of financial stress, a round table discussion on local solutions for low income families.

For further information please contact Noirin Coghlan (ncoghlan@ballymun.org) or

Manus Bree (manus@ballymun.org) at 01-8423612

Filed Under: Ballymun

Family Income Support applicants must be processed by Christmas – Ellis

November 16, 2012 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Dessie Ellis TD has raised concerns at the Department of Social Protection instruction to the Family Income Support section of the department to only process applications received on or after November 5th. The effect of this is that applications coming in now will be processed before the applications of families who have already been waiting for five and six months.
Deputy Ellis said every effort must be made to ensure all applicants are processed and paid before Christmas.
“I understand that the minister, along with senior officials, has taken a decision to instruct the Family Income Support section of the department to only process applications received on or after November 5th. The effect of this is that applications coming in now will be processed before the applications of families who have already been waiting for five and six months. The new applications may be processed immediately while those unfortunate enough to have made their application earlier will be left waiting.
“I understand that most of the families caught up in the pre-November 5th back log will not receive any payment at all before Christmas.
“Over 7,000 families with almost 16,000 children are caught up in this backlog. What are these families to do? What are they to do for Christmas? What are they to do with the growing arrears on their household bills?
“The average applicant who is waiting since June will by now be owed €3,500 in back payments. If they are left waiting until January, this will have risen to €4,700. Many families will have no option but to borrow these sums from money lenders and the cost of these loans will be many multiples of the money that the department owes them now.” ENDS

Filed Under: Ballymun, Economy, Finance

Receivers of rent supplement must be protected from losing homes – Ellis

November 8, 2012 By Dessie Ellis Leave a Comment

Dessie Ellis TD

November 6, 2012

Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has called on the government to shield those in receipt of rent supplement from any further cuts and to protect those who are at threat of losing their homes due to cuts already imposed by the Fine Gael and Labour coalition. He made his comments following the publication of a report by Focus Ireland on the Rent Supplement scheme.

Ellis continued;

“The report says that by cutting rent supplement the government were seeking to use it to lower rents generally. Not only is this ethically wrong, playing with the lives of thousands of people on the scheme but it is also a completely wrong policy which has been shown not to work and ignores the reason for higher rents.

“People who were struggling before on rent supplement, are now fearful of losing their homes thanks to government cuts to the scheme. Quite a few already have and are now struggling to find alternative accommodation based on the reduced supplement.

“The government has cut and cut again from the most vulnerable and this cannot continue.

“They must assure people that rent supplement will not be cut in this budget, they must row back on previous cuts and put in place measures which make it easier for people to find accommodation which will take rent supplement and at reasonable rates.

“This should include direct dealings by the state with landlords to secure value for money and good quality accommodation for tenants.”

ENDS

Filed Under: General News, Jobs, Local News, National News