Press Release - Looney: Housing Adaptation Grants Cuts “a Let Down by Labour in Govt”

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Cllr on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has stated that swingeing cuts to grants for older and disabled people to adapt their homes are “inexcusable” and “another let down by Labour in Government.” Looney’s comments come as South Dublin County Council’s grant funding for adaptation schemes is cut by more than half for 2013. 

Three separate grants are administered by SDCC for housing adaptation. The Housing Adaptation Scheme for People With a Disability is a grant for making homes more suitable for people who are disabled, up to a maximum of €30,000. The Mobility Aids Grants Scheme is usually for people requiring home adaptation due to mobility issues brought on by ageing, such as a downstairs bathroom or stairlift, up to a maximum of €6,000. The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is for necessary works such as re-wiring and re-roofing up to a maximum of €10,500.

All three schemes are dependent on means testing and estimates from three contractors, while two of the schemes also require occupational therapist reports. Almost 250 homes in the Tallaght area alone have benefited from these schemes in the past two years. 

Grant funding from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to SDCC for the schemes was reduced from €3.08 million in 2011, to €2.73 million in 2012, and to just €1.21 million for this year. To date, almost €435,000 of the €1.21 million has already been paid out this year, with many in-progress works yet to be funded.

In response to Looney’s motion on the matter at a recent Area Committee meeting, Council officials confirmed that almost €2 million was allocated from the funds for last year and that the current funding is unlikely to meet the demand. Looney is also due to raise the matter at next Monday’s full Council meeting and has written to Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan to ask her to revisit the cuts.

“I have been delighted to assist many older and disabled people in informing them about and assisting them with applications to these important schemes,” noted Looney. “South Dublin County Council has had a strong record of ensuring grant aid for all applicants who meet the strict criteria during my time on the Council. This inexcusable cut, which cuts the scheme by almost 2/3 since 2011, is likely to mean that older residents and those who are disabled will be unable to avail of necessary housing adaptations to allow them live with independence and dignity. It is also bad news for local tradespeople who rely on schemes such as these to make a living in these precarious times.”

“I would urge all those who are interested in applying for the scheme to do so immediately as grant funding may run out on the basis of these cuts.”

“The Labour Party entered government stating that they would protect vulnerable people. This has been another let down from Labour in Government. There are options beyond the austerity agenda which can protect our vulnerable citizens and protect employment. With this in mind, I have written to Minister O’Sullivan to ask her to revisit these cuts.”

---------------------
 

County Council Meeting Headed Item based on my motion below (updated figures have since been provided)

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 08, 2013

HEADED ITEM NO. 2c)

REPORT OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE  MEETING (1) & (2) - Monday, 25^th March, 2013

Motion No: M (10)  CUTS BY THE DECLG TO THE HOUSING ADAPTION GRANTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE
The following motion was considered at the Tallaght Area Committee held on 25th March 2013:-
It was proposed by Councillor D. Looney, seconded by Councillor C. King:
“That this Committee notes with serious concern the announcement by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government of substantial cuts to housing adaptation grants for older people and those who are disabled; that a report be provided on the uptake of these grants by those in this area in 2011 and 2012; that a preliminary report be issued on how these cuts will affect grants in the area under the remit of this committee for 2013; and that a full report on the impact of these proposed cuts be made to the April Council meeting.”

The following report by the Manager which had been circulated was READ:

“The Council operates three Housing Grant Schemes for older people and those who are disabled as follows:
·        The Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme for People with a Disability
·        The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme 
·        The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme.
These grants are available in respect of owner occupied dwellings and certain rented dwellings (subject to written permission being provided by the Landlord).
Grants may be awarded under these schemes by South Dublin County Council to qualified applicants subject to the criteria set out in the regulations and associated guidance documents issued by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DoECLG).
Budgets for these grants are not allocated on an electoral area basis.   However detail as requested in respect of the electoral areas of Tallaght Central and South for the combined schemes for years 2011 and 2012 is set out in the following table, as well as an outline of the expenditure on these schemes a county-wide basis:

Year	No of Applications received from Tallaght Central and South EA	€ paid	€ County Wide
2011	117	591,597	1,626,985
2012	129	825,906	1,952,819

South Dublin County Council recently received notification of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government 2013 approved allocation for these grants in the sum of €1,213,986.05.  This reflects a 40% reduction (nationally) over the 2012 spend. 
In correspondence received from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government it was advised that due to the finite resources which are currently available, local authorities should ensure that funds are targeted at essential works only and that an effective and easy to understand scheme of prioritisation be put in place to ensure that applications are prioritised on the basis of the medical needs of the applicant. The three levels of medical priority advised to this Council are as follows:
1.      Priority 1: Terminally ill or mainly dependent on family or a carer, or where alterations/adaptations would facilitate the discharge from hospital or alleviate hospitalisation in the future.
2.     Priority 2: Mobile, but needs assistance in accessing facilities, or where, without the adaptation the disabled persons’ ability to function independently would be hindered.
3.     Priorty 3: The applicant is independent, but requires special facilities to improve their quality of life, e.g. separate bedroom or living space.
 To date grants to a total value of €356,343 over the 3 schemes have been paid out countywide.
As already outlined budgets for the various grant schemes are not allocated on an electoral basis.   Accordingly at this point it is premature to state how this reduced allocation will affect grants in the area under the remit of this committee for 2013.”
The motion was PASSED

Press Release - Looney Publishes Latest Expenses

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Councillor on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has welcomed the publication of Councillor expenses for the County for 2012.  Looney last year won a long campaign to secure the publication of all Cllr expenses and has welcomed the most recent figures for 2012. Looney's own expenses are amongst the lowest in the County for the fourth year in succession.

“I am again delighted that this important information has been made accessible to the public,” noted Looney. “Following my election in 2009, I campaigned to have this information made readily available online. The Council published the 2012 figures two weeks ago. They again show me to be one of the most prolific attendees at Council meetings and lowest expense claimants on the Council. Alon with my Labour colleagues and some other Cllrs I refuse, for example, to claim any expenses for Conferences at home or abroad."

"In the interests of accountability and transparency, I am again releasing a full list of my own remuneration and expenses, including all non-Council related expenses, since 2009. This list shows that I am, consistently, one of the lowest-claiming Cllrs on SDCC. As a member of County Dublin VEC and four of its subcommittees, I am entitled to claim a small expense for meetings lasting more than three hours. I have also included those details below.”

Cllr Dermot Looney – Remuneration and Expenses 2012
2012: Representational Payment €16,723.92;
Expenses €6,486.87; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €650.62; VEC Expenses €567.28; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €7,704.77

Cllr Dermot Looney – Remuneration and Expenses 2009-2011
2009 (June-Dec): Representational Payment €9,731.10;
Annual Allowance €3,587.47; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €300; VEC Expenses €283.64; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €4171.11

2010: Representational Payment €16,797.26;
Annual Allowance €6,306.65; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €829.35; VEC Expenses €810.40; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €7,946.40

2011: Representational Payment €16,723.92;
Expenses €6,486.87; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €985.72; VEC Expenses €769.88; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €8,242,47

Notes:
 
The “Representational Payment” is, in essence, a Councillor’s ‘salary;’ it is fixed at one-quarter of a Senator’s salary and is dependent on attendance at meetings. As it is subject to PAYE, PRSI, USC and other deductions, I receive approximately €8,000 per annum nett.

“Annual Allowance” refers to travel, subsistence and other expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of a Cllr. “Phone and Broadband” refers to the payments made for mobile phone and broadband usage. “VEC expenses” are €40.52 for every meeting of the VEC or its Subcommittees that incurs more than 3 hours work. Expenses do not apply to Community School boards or meetings which take less than 3 hours.

Full details of attendance and expenses for all SDCC Cllrs are available at http://www.sdcc.ie/the-council/council-meetings/s142-register

Press Release: Area Chair Looney Calls for Submissions to Boundary Review Committee

Tallaght Area Chair Councillor Dermot Looney (Labour) has called for residents living in the Dublin 6w, 12 and 24 areas to consider making submissions to the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee. The Committee was established by the Minister for the Environment last year, and is due to recommend a series of new electoral areas for the next Council elections in 2014.

In calling for local citizens to consider making submissions, Looney has noted that, to date, no submissions have been made regarding the South Dublin County area. There are currently five LEA's on the Council; Tallaght Central (6 members), Tallaght South (5 members), Clondalkin (6 members), Lucan (5 members) and Rathfarnham (4 members). Substantial changes to all are expected, with their possible expansion in terms of seats, or the creation of new electoral areas.

“The Action Plan announced by the Minister last year detailed very significant changes to how we elect local councillors,” stated Looney. “One expected change is the increase in Cllrs on South Dublin County Council from 26 to 40. Another is the abolition of current four- and five-seat areas. New electoral areas will have between six and ten seats, with the Minister recommending seven as a typical number.”

“There will be very substantial changes to how we elect Councillors in our area, and I am calling on residents to have their say. Residents can make a submission by post or email. Details are online at www.boundarycommittee.ie. Submissions must be made by Friday, January 25^th.”

“I am currently drafting my own submission in to reflect my own feedback from voters, for example in ensuring that areas within Dublin 12 remain contiguous, that communities in Tallaght are not split unnecessarily, and that more thought is given to electoral area names.”

Press Release - Looney Welcomes Passage of Council Budget

Labour Party Councillor Dermot Looney (Tallaght Central) has welcomed the passage of the 2013 South Dublin County Council Budget, stating that the Budget “seeks to protect frontline services and develop South Dublin as a good place to live and work.” The Council’s Budget was passed at a meeting on Monday, December 17^th with the support of Labour, Sinn Féin and Fine Gael Councillors, along with two Independents. Looney has also criticised Fianna Fáil, who voted and spoke against the Budget without offering any alternative proposals.

“Today’s Budget seeks to protect frontline Council services such as Housing, Roads, Parks and Environmental Services, despite a substantial drop in income from central government and other sources. We have also managed to increase funding to the Council’s award-winning Library Services,” stated Looney. 

“Members of the Labour/Sinn Féin/Independent Alliance on the Council have again foregone tens of thousands of euro in Conference Expenses, following through on a 2009 pledge not to claim any money for Conferences at home or abroad. This money has been diverted into a Window Replacement Fund, increased to approximately €1 million, and targeted at local authority tenants. Councillors also froze rates for businesses in the County, after three separate rates cuts of accumulating to 5.3% since 2009. Important supports for vulnerable people were also protected, such as housing grants for the elderly and those who are disabled."

“Fianna Fáil opposed the Council Budget without offering a single alternative. At the meeting, I called on them to present alternative ideas, but, as has happened before, they could not be bothered. They subsequently complained about burial ground charge increases; despite knowing about these increases for more than a year they offered no alternatives on the day or in advance. It is hard to take them seriously on the issue. Last year, members of the Labour/Sinn Féin/Independent Alliance managed to offset some of the increases by diverting money set aside for Councillor Conferences to the burial grounds. Fianna Fáil Cllrs used those same funds to travel to hotels around the country attending Conferences.”

Press Release: Looney and IT Tallaght Labour Welcome Bus Shelter After 3-Year Long Campaign

Tallaght Central Labour Cllr Dermot Looney and the IT Tallaght Labour Youth Branch have welcomed the construction of a bus shelter outside the college following a campaign which has lasted almost three years. Looney launched a campaign with the college branch at the beginning of 2010 to highlight the concerns of the hundreds of students and staff of IT Tallaght who use the bus stop on the Old Blessington Road on a daily basis.

The campaign included a petition with 1,100 signatures from IT Tallaght students, motions to South Dublin County Council, social media platforms and other methods to convince Dublin Bus of the need to install the shelter at the stop. Following pressure from the campaign, Dublin Bus confirmed they would inspect the site in March 2011 and agreed in November 2011 to seek planning permission. This planning permission was agreed in the summer of 2012 and the construction of the shelter occurred during the last week. The shelter has already been well used by students and staff of the college, as well as others who live and work in the area, given the inclement weather.

“I am delighted to welcome the installation of this much-needed bus shelter,” noted Cllr Dermot Looney, “the delivery of which was achieved after almost three years of campaigning. I want to congratulate my colleagues in the IT Tallaght Labour Youth branch for their work in helping to win this campaign. I also want to thank Dublin Bus for recognising the demands of students and other bus users in installing this shelter, and South Dublin County Council for assisting the application process.”

“I also want to pay tribute to IT Tallaght Students’ Union, who supported the campaign, to the hundreds of staff and students who signed the petition, the dozens to signed up to our Facebook page, and to the other public representatives in the area who supported my motions.”

Adam Fulham, Chair of IT Tallaght Labour Youth, said; “Our campaign started in early 2010 when we began to collect signatures for a petition we sent to Dublin Bus. By the end of 2010, 1,100 people had signed the petition for the shelter. More than 300 people signed up to our Facebook group and we won support from Cllrs and TD’s through the work of Cllr Dermot Looney. This is a great example where people power has won out for the students of our college.”

 

Below: Picture of Cllr Dermot Looney and Adam Fulham at the Bus Shelter outside IT Tallaght, with some of the petitions signed by IT Tallaght students and staff.

Looney Calls on Local Football Fans to “Support the Saints” this Sunday

Local Councillor Dermot Looney has called on local football fans to get behind St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup Final this Sunday, November 4^th. Looney, a lifelong Saints fan, is encouraging lapsed Pat’s fans, neutrals and those with only a passing interest to avail of the cheap admission to the Aviva and support St Pat’s, who will take on Derry City in the final.

“At only €10 for adults and €5 for kids, this is a wonderful opportunity for all football fans to attend the Aviva at a fraction of the cost of a standard international ticket. A bumper atmosphere is guaranteed and with St Pat’s looking to secure their first Cup win in 51 years, it could be a truly historic match.”

“There are plenty of ‘lapsed Saints’ in our local area – those who might have attended Pat’s games over the years – who can bring great support to the Aviva on Sunday. Likewise, it will be a great family day out for neutrals, and for fans of other clubs. Even Shamrock Rovers fans will be cheering for St Pat’s on the day – no doubt behind gritted teeth – given that a Saints win is their only path into European football!”

“A recent report issued by the UK’s tourism agency stated that almost 200,000 Irish people travelled to Britain last year to watch English Premier League matches, spending almost €100 million. If one-tenth of those people spent a fraction of that money supporting their local football club, it would transform League of Ireland clubs. This is the ideal opportunity to catch an Irish football match before the winter break.”

Tickets are available via the St Patrick’s Athletic offices at 125 Emmet Rd, Inchicore and on the day at the Aviva Stadium.

O’Sullivan and Looney Call for Upgrade to Walkinstown Post Office

Two Dublin 12 Labour Councillors in neighbouring local authorities have joined together to call for an upgrade to a local Post Office service on the border of the City and County Council. South Dublin County Councillor Dermot Looney has joined with his Dublin City Council colleague Michael O’Sullivan to campaign for an upgrade to postal services in Walkinstown.

The Walkinstown Post Office is located in a small, old building on Bunting Road which the two Councillors have said is “not fit for purpose.” O’Sullivan and Looney have called on An Post to upgrade the services in the interests of safety, security and service for residents living nearby in the Walkinstown and Greenhills areas.

“The Post Office was located in this building decades ago with the assumption that this would be a temporary measure,” said Cllr Michael O’Sullivan. “But despite the huge changes in the postal service over all those years, little has changed for local residents.”

“The current premises is unsuitable for a modern post office service. There are serious safety and security concerns for staff and customers which came to light in recent robberies. Furthermore, the premises is too small to accommodate the large numbers who use the Post Office,” concluded O’Sullivan.

His South Dublin colleague Cllr Dermot Looney stated; “Since the closure of the Greenhills Post Office with the fire at the old McHugh’s site in 2003, thousands of residents in the Greenhills area have had to use the Bunting Rd office for their postal service. This has led to yet further pressure on the staff and the premises itself. It is particularly depressing to see large queues out the door at busy times, in all weathers – particularly when so many elderly and vulnerable people need to use the Post Office.”

“I have called on An Post to reinstate the postal service in Greenhills but, in the meantime, an upgrade to the Bunting Rd facility, or a move to an appropriate and nearby facility is required,” noted Looney. “If there is to be a move, it must be accessible by bus from Greenhills and other nearby estates. The rumoured move to the Superquinn on Walkinstown Road would be inaccessible for many elderly residents in Greenhills. I have communicated this to the CEO of An Post and Minister Pat Rabbitte and hope this is taken on board if a new site is being sourced.”

Both Cllrs have been told by An Post that they are aware of the problems being experienced at the Bunting Rd facility and that the company is actively seeking an upgrade. Both Cllrs have submitted motions to their local area committees at Council level and will be continuing the campaign in the time ahead.

Reply to the "Seanad Reform" Group

Earlier today I received an email from a Communications firm acting on behalf of seanadreform.com, as below.

Dear Councillor

Attached is a consultation paper entitled ‘Radical Seanad Reform Through Legislative Change - Proposals for Measures to Transform Seanad Éireann Without The Need For Constitutional Amendment’ prepared by Senator Feargal Quinn, Michael McDowell, Joe O’Toole, Noel Whelan and Senator Katherine Zappone. 

They look forward to receiving your views on info@seanadreform.com.

Kind regards, etc

 The document is meant to be available online. My response is below.

Hi .....,

 

many thanks for your email. I read through much of the consultation paper earlier today. Much of it is interesting; some of it is downright offensive, e.g. the proposal to maintain votes for graduates, and the vestige of the quasi-fascist Quadragesimo Anno in support of vocational panels.

 

My views are straightforward. Seanad Éireann is an anachronistic, elitist institution which is beyond reform. If we, as a country, are genuine about actual democracy, and giving power to citizens and communities, we will move on from the Seanad sideshow and seek real reform of the Dáil, local authorities and other structures.

 

I, of course, accept that some individual Senators have been excellent advocates in the past; but the institution itself is the problem.

 

Is mise, le meas,

Dermot Looney

 

Cllr Dermot Looney

Labour Party | Pairtí an Lucht Oibre

Tallaght Central

Press Release - Looney Welcomes Imminent Publication of Cllr Expenses

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Party Councillor on South Dublin County Council (SDCC), has welcomed confirmation that all Councillor expenses are to be published online in the coming days. Cllr Looney has campaigned for the publication of the information since his election to SDCC in 2009.

Following a question on notice from Cllr Looney at June’s Council meeting, and a motion in his name passed at September’s meeting, Council officials have confirmed the imminent publication of all Councillor expenses and remuneration on the SDCC website. Councillors have been written to in the last week with a draft of the published list, and full publication is expected within the coming days. The details will be posted along with details of Councillors’ attendance at County Council meetings since 2009.

“I am delighted that this important information will be made accessible to the public,” noted Cllr Looney. “Several other County Councils already publish such data under Section 142(4)(g) of the 2001 Local Government Act. Some national newspapers also publish the raw data on an intermittent basis. However, the Council’s plan to publish fully-annotated expenses and remuneration online will give a fairer and more complete account of these expenses.”

“These statistics will show that, in general, Councillors receive a modest income and a level of expenses far below what is highlighted in some of the media. Myself and my Labour colleagues on SDCC refuse, for example, to claim any expenses for Conferences at home or abroad. In the interests of accountability and transparency, I am releasing a full list of my own remuneration and expenses, including all non-Council related expenses, since 2009. This list shows that I am, consistently, one of the lowest-claiming Cllrs on SDCC.”

“Some politicians milked the system for too long – and got away with it. Now it is important that we never let this happen again. Opening up the Council’s books and publishing this information will go some way in ensuring transparency and accountability at local level.”

ENDS

Cllr Dermot Looney – Remuneration and Expenses 2009-2011

2009 (June-Dec): Representational Payment €9,731.10;
Annual Allowance €3,587.47; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €300; VEC Expenses €283.64; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €4171.11

2010: Representational Payment €16,797.26;
Annual Allowance €6,306.65; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €829.35; VEC Expenses €810.40; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €7,946.40

2011: Representational Payment €16,723.92;
Expenses €6,486.87; Home Conferences €0; International Travel €0; Phone & Broadband €985.72; VEC Expenses €769.88; Other Expenses €0. Total Expenses: €8,242,47

Notes:
The “Representational Payment” is, in essence, a Councillor’s ‘salary;’ it is fixed at one-quarter of a Senator’s salary and is dependent on attendance at meetings. As it is subject to PAYE, PRSI, USC and other deductions, I receive approximately €7,900 per annum nett.

“Annual Allowance” refers to travel, subsistence and other expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of a Cllr. “Phone and Broadband” refers to the payments made for mobile phone and broadband usage. “VEC expenses” are €40.52 for every meeting of the VEC or its Subcommittees that incurs more than 3 hours work. Expenses do not apply to Community School boards or meetings which take less than 3 hours.

Press Release - Looney Elected Youngest-Ever Tallaght Area Chair

Labour Councillor Dermot Looney has been elected Chair of the Tallaght Area Committee at the Annual Meeting of South Dublin County Council held on June 29th. The 29 year-old is the youngest ever Chair for the Tallaght Area and is also the first Tallaght Area Chair from the Dublin 12 area, which became a part of the Tallaght Central ward prior to the last local elections.

The Tallaght Area Committee comprises 11 Cllrs from Tallaght South and Tallaght Central, who in turn represent over 100,000 residents in the area. It is the largest Area Committee on South Dublin County Council and one of the largest in the country. The Chair of the Committee is an unpaid position which includes the chairing of monthly area committee meetings and, on occasion, representing the Mayor of the County at events. Cllr Looney was unanimously elected at the Council meeting, having been nominated by outgoing Chair Cllr Mick Duff, and seconded by Cllr Marie Corr.

“I am honoured to have been elected as Chair of the Tallaght Area Committee,” said Cllr Looney, “and look forward to working with the new Mayor Cathal King, and the other Cllrs for the Tallaght area, in continuing to promote our communities at Council level and beyond.”