Jennifer Marley housing case
Michael Collins raises the case of 88-year-old Jennifer Marley, facing eviction in Bantry, and links it to wider housing reform. The Taoiseach asks for the details, says a council house should be possible, and agrees to follow up on the case.
Jennifer Marley is 88 years of age and has been living in rented accommodation-----
Comment on this
In fairness, I never interfere in anybody else's time for questions. I would appreciate if all Deputies would pay the same respect.
Comment on this
Jennifer Marley is 88 years of age and has been living in rented accommodation in Bantry for the past six years. She has received a notice to quit her rented home as the landlord wants to sell. We are frantically trying to get Jennifer a house she can call her own as she is not suited to sheltered accommodation at 88 years of age.
Tomorrow, Independent Ireland will put forward a motion in the House calling for legislative action on infrastructure reform to accelerate housing delivery. We propose up to 23 measures in our motion to address the housing crisis, including everything from declaring a housing emergency to rewarding high-performing councils, in an attempt to ensure delivery for the people of Ireland and stop the empty talk.
The mess we are in now has left Jennifer Marley in Bantry facing an uncertain future, with the real prospect of being left without a roof over her head. She has told me I can show the House the picture of her I am holding in my hand. This woman, who is 88 years of age and part of the fabric of our community, must leave her home in a short few weeks. What hope - by which I mean real hope - will the Taoiseach give Jennifer today that she can be guaranteed to have a roof over her head in four weeks' time?
Comment on this
The Deputy has not spoken to me about this case before now. Perhaps he can send the details to me. I am not clear whether the local authority has been approached in respect of this case and whether Jennifer was on the social housing list. It should be very possible to accommodate an 88-year-old in a council house. I do not know the background but it seems to me there is an obvious solution.