The Dáil Regional Group of TDs from across the Country are seeking cross-party support for their motion to end the means testing of family carers. This motion aims to replace the current Carers Allowance system with a non-means tested scheme based solely on care needs, recognising the invaluable contribution of over 500,000 family carers across Ireland. Family Carers, who represent …
Decision by An Post to hand over post office services disappointing – Naughten
Local TD and former Communications Minister Denis Naughten has expressed his disappointment at the potential closure of the post office on The Square in Roscommon Town, following the decision by An Post to tender the services to a contractor. “While this will come as a blow to the dedicated staff in the post office, there is also the risk that …
Taoiseach backs proposal to address vacancies in children’s disability services – Naughten
Proposals from Denis Naughten TD that would see innovative recruitment of therapists to work evenings and weekends in children’s disability services has received the support of the Taoiseach. The Dáil heard this week from Denis Naughten TD that the HSE must introduce flexible working contracts to attract therapists to the almost 800 vacancies that currently exist across children’s disability services. …
6,432 waiting for home support care: Dáil to debate home care crisis – Naughten
The Dáil will this week debate the urgent need to address the crisis in home care support with almost 6,500 people on a waiting list to access support, including some individuals who are currently stuck in hospital beds claims Denis Naughten TD. On Wednesday morning the Regional Group of TDs will move a Dáil motion highlighting the critical state of …
Frontline workers must receive long Covid supports – Naughten
Denis Naughten has called on Government to ensure all frontline workers who contracted Covid through their employment, and who were subsequently forced out of work due to long Covid symptoms, are able to avail of supports until they are fit to return to work. “At present, 120 frontline healthcare workers with long Covid are availing of a special leave …
Decade long transport lockdown for people with a disability – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten will tell the Dáil next week that people with a disability have effectively been coping with a decade long lockdown because of the failure to put transport supports in place to allow them to access work and other community activities. “Ten years ago the Government suspended the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant for new applicants …
Naughten welcomes grant of €50,000 for empty homes
Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the announcement that families can now apply for a grant of €50,000 to refurbish a home that has been vacant for two years, with an additional top-up grant available if the property is derelict. The details of the revised grant scheme will be published by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien TD after this week’s Cabinet …
Rent a room relief extended to those on welfare – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has welcomed the extension of the “rent a room” relief to people in receipt of Social Welfare who wish to rent out a spare room in their home. For the next two years a person renting a room in their home to a person who is not an employee, or an immediate family member, will have up …
Lack of joined up thinking is a barrier to nursing home residents renting out their home
Every year up to 4,500 people leave behind an empty home when they enter long-term nursing home care. Yet despite the unprecedented demand for rental accommodation just 400 of these homes are leased out. There is something wrong when so few of these homes are leased out, particularly when the State places a financial charge against the value of …
We need real action to address housing crisis
My Regional Independent colleagues and I met last night and put the following eight asks to Government on the housing issue taht would make a real difference to the current crisis. My position on the Private Members vote on housing tomorrow evening and the proposed no confidence vote will be dependent on the Government’s response. The objective behind our eight …