#OurFuture - Labour's Alternative budget

Posted on October 05, 2017

We have made clear that we don't believe there is enough space for any tax cuts in this Budget. Instead, we have argued for the construction of 5,000 public homes, and the funding of Sláintecare (a new national strategy to build our public healthcare system) as the central points of our proposals.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are having a phoney war over tax cuts that will amount to between €2 and €4 per week for middle-income families. We have said that cutting school costs, reducing college fees by €1,000 next year, eliminating hospital inpatient charges, and increasing the public subsidy of childcare would save families a lot more

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Labour must focus on Greening of Ireland

Posted on April 26, 2017

Labour member in Dún Laoghaire, Adam Hurley writes about our Greening of Ireland discussion at our 69th Annual Conference.

On Saturday we held a lively discussion on our "Greening of Ireland" policy document where members, elected representatives and guest speakers outlined the challenges facing the environment and how Labour plans on tackling climate change.

A 'Just Transition' for those working in the fossil fuel industry was viewed as critical to support the livelihoods of workers in rural areas.

As someone from the midlands, a 'Just Transition' is totally necessary for those working in fossil fuels to protect their livelihoods #LP17

— Adam Hurley (@ATMH1994) April 22, 2017

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Permanent link | Categories: Environment

Brendan Howlin on the Irish Times podcast

Posted on February 02, 2017

 Listen below to the The Irish Times podcast with Brendan Howlin. In the podcast, Brendan chats to Hugh Linehan and Fiach Kelly about #LabourRebuild, our upcoming party conference and the state of social democracy in these changing times. Have a listen below,

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Unlocking the Door - Labour's Housing Plan

Posted on July 18, 2016

Earlier today our Housing and Planning Spokesperson, Jan O'Sullivan TD launched our Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016 with Willie Penrose TD and Cllr Duncan Smith.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend various pieces of legislation in order to make improvements to the current serious shortage in supply of housing for sale or for rent at affordable prices, and to ensure a stable and functioning housing market.

This Bill is set in the context of looking at the constitutional balance between the rights of private property and the principle of social justice and the common good. And while it represents a strong and comprehensive legislative response to the issues, it has to be acknowledged that legislation alone, cannot fix everything.

Permanent link | Categories: Environment • Jan OSullivan • Housing

We want to tackle housing supply, make homes affordable and increase security for tenants

Posted on June 22, 2016

Earlier today our Housing and Planning Spokesperson, Jan O'Sullivan TD launched our Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016  with Party Leader Brendan Howlin TD, Willie Penrose TD, Alan Kelly TD and Cllr Duncan Smith.

Jan O'Sullivan invited several key stakeholders including the Irish Council for Social Housing, Threshold, Focus Ireland, USI and many other interested parties.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend various pieces of legislation in order to make improvements to the current serious shortage in supply of housing for sale or for rent at affordable prices, and to ensure a stable and functioning housing market. 

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Permanent link | Categories: Environment

Day 9 : #GE16 We're Making Homes Affordable

Posted on February 11, 2016

This morning in Limerick City Minister for the Environment and Deputy Leader Alan Kelly and Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan launched our plan for affordable housing.

[You can read our plan here]

Before the launch both Ministers headed along to the former Tait Clothing site where 82 new units are currently under construction. In our housing plan we want to build more social homes and will deliver 1110,00 social housing units by 2020. Right now, over 5,000 social homes are under construction and in the last year, over 420 local authority staff have been added to housing sections all around the country

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Permanent link | Categories: Environment

Day 5 #GE16 : We're growing the Green Economy

Posted on February 07, 2016

Ministers Alex White, Kevin Humphreys and Cllr Carrie Smyth today launched our policy on how we are going to grow the green economy and create 13,000 new jobs in the procress.

[You can download our Growing the Green Economy Plan here]

We will create a new €1 billion Green Infastructure Fund to fund immediate action needed on climate change . Having delivered ground-breaking and historic climate change legislation we will now invest in the energy sector to create jobs, grow business and benefit the economy by expading the Better Energy. Warmer Homes scheme to retrofit 225,000 homes over the next five years.

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The water has subsided - let's prioritise flood protection-Minister Alan Kelly

Posted on January 21, 2016

Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly has written in today's Irish Independent about the devastating flooding that has happened in the last few months and how we need to prioritise a long-term plan for flood prevention. You can read the original article here.

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Labour is Standing Up for the Environment

Posted on December 03, 2015

Today the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas. After years of promised Climate Change legislation, the Labour Party has ensured that this important legislation has finally gone through all stages,

Unlike previous Governments, we have not shied away from our commitment to address climate change. Instead, we have sought to responded in a comprehensive manner to one of the most challenging issues facing this and future generations. 

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€23m cash boost for social housing

Posted on September 08, 2014

Social housing got a boost on Friday, when Environment Minister Alan Kelly announced a further €23million to deal with a range of issues such as housing adaptation and energy efficiency.

€15million will be targeted at important energy works such as improving attic and wall insulation. This will make local authority homes warmer and more comfortable for tenants, as well as creating jobs in the green economy.

He said: “As a result of the further €15 million for energy retrofitting works to social houses, I expect to see over 4,000 houses becoming warmer homes, with reduced fuel bills this winter.”

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Permanent link | Categories: Environment