I believe renters should be allowed to use a proven rental payment record in lieu of a large deposit requirement, particularly for first-time buyers with stable employment and strong financial histories. Many renters consistently pay monthly rent that is equal to or higher than a mortgage repayment, often for years without missing payments. This demonstrates financial reliability and repayment ability. However, saving for a deposit while paying high rents has become extremely difficult. Myself and my boyfriend have been renting for the last three years in Bettystown, Co. Meath, paying rent of between 1,300 and 1,500, as a result of renting we have been unable to save up a deposit to buy our own home. We have been paying rent that would be equal or higher to a mortgage repayment. I work in AIB helping others with their mortgages so I know for a fact others pay less for their homes than we pay in rent.  We have a ten month old daughter and we would like to own our own property so she has a home to grow up in, rather than renting where we're not one-hundred percent sure we will be able to live for years to come. It is hard to plan for her future - schools/clubs for her to join - as we are not sure we will still be able to live in this area forever, as much as we would like to. 

In 2021, Uisce Éireann said that the water treatment plant in Ballivor, Meath, was a priority and works to increase the storage capacity would begin shortly. In 2024, they said work would be completed by 2027. We are halfway through 2026 and no work has commenced.  The water tower in Ballivor needs to be refilled too often because it does not have the storage capacity for the amount of houses it supplies. People are left without water for prolonged periods as a result. There have been parents of newborns left without water to clean bottles, elderly people who can’t even fill their kettle, and appliances damaged from the residual buildup pumped from the outdated tower.

We are calling on Wicklow County Council to urgently provide appropriate emergency accommodation for a Bray-based mother and her two children with additional needs, who are now just days away from eviction. Recent reporting in the Bray People has highlighted the family’s situation, including the imminent loss of their home and the significant challenges they face in meeting the needs of two children requiring additional care and stability. This mother has lived and worked in Bray her entire life and is well known within the local community, making this situation all the more distressing for those who know the family and understand their circumstances. Facing homelessness is distressing for any family, but it is particularly critical in cases involving children with additional needs, where disruption can have serious impacts on wellbeing, routine, and access to essential supports. We recognise the pressures on housing services, but situations like this require immediate and compassionate intervention.

The Road R741 from Crosstown to Castlebridge is unsafe and unfit for its purpose.  12000+ cars use this stretch of road every day, a ten fold increase over the last 2 decades. Over the years, there have been fatalities and recently many near misses with pedestrians and cyclists - some instances where they have been knocked over.  Elderly people, parents with children and disabled people using mobility scooters are forced directly onto the road where public footpaths end abruptly and verges are unsafe. The roads unsuitable resurfacing and lack of infrastructure and drainage has meant the verge is now at a sharp angle, where you can no longer safely walk. The danger is increased in wet weather. From Crosstown service station to Castlebridge, the speed limit increases from 60 to 80 km/h, while public footpaths and cycle lanes suddenly end. Unsafe verges mean pedestrians are forced directly onto the roads surface.    Houses along the road are in dips as a result of careless resurfacing - where the road is now bowed - causing flooding with damages of over €30,000.  This applies to a stretch of road just 1.2 miles long where cycle lanes and public footpaths end in abruptly in Crosstown and begin again in Castlebridge - how are pedestrians and cyclists supposed to travel safely without these measures? 

Job creation, housing, and much needed investment and rejuvenation of St Patrick's street

Please sign my petition and support me in gaining suitable emergency accommodation supports from Donegal County Council.

The Reality More than 150,000 households live in local authority housing across Ireland. These communities reflect the full diversity of our society — including children, often invisible despite being deeply affected by housing conditions, alongside older people, persons with disabilities, working families and those transitioning from homelessness, — yet too often, their voices are not meaningfully included in decisions that affect their daily lives. Without participation, inclusion cannot exist. Our Call We are calling on Housing Minister James Browne TD To lead and encourage local authorities to: • Recognise tenants as residents within housing participation frameworks  • Support meaningful resident participation in housing decisions  • Embed equality, diversity and inclusion in housing service design and delivery  This is a practical change that can be delivered through national guidance — no new legislation required. Why This Matters Recognition is not just a word. It shapes: • Whether people feel heard or ignored • Whether services are fair or distant • Whether communities feel included or excluded Stronger communities are built when people have a voice in the place they call home. Take Action 👉 Give Residents a Voice — Sign the Petition Support resident voice in housing decisions. It only takes a minute — but it can help create lasting change. Empowering communities starts with a voice for everyone.

Our Concerns • The electric heating system is extremely expensive to run, leading to unusually high electricity bills for many residents. • Some residents are afraid to use the heaters due to the cost. • Others are forced to limit heating to 1–2 hours per day or limiting the heating to 1 room, which is not enough to keep homes warm. • The ventilation system blows cold air continuously, making it very difficult, and sometimes impossible to heat our apartments properly. • These issues create cold, uncomfortable living conditions, especially for families, older residents, and those with health conditions. What We Are Asking For We respectfully request that Respond Housing: 1. Assess the ventilation system to determine why cold air is continuously entering apartments. 2. Provide alternative, energy‑efficient heating solutions that are safe, effective, and affordable for residents. 3. Conduct an immediate review of the building’s heating and ventilation systems, including their design, operation, and impact on residents’ energy costs and comfort. Why This Matters Every resident has the right to a warm, safe, and energy‑efficient home. The current situation is causing financial strain, discomfort, and unnecessary stress. We are asking Respond Housing to take these concerns seriously and provide a clear plan of action. By signing below, we show our collective support for this request and ask Respond Housing to respond promptly.

The site of the former Drake Inn is a large derelict building in the heart of Finglas Village. It has been derelict for decades. Finglas has a huge need for community buildings that would bring people together and be used by local groups and organisations. Arts and culture events should also be a regular occurrence in Finglas Village, and the area urgently needs more affordable housing. The ‘Drake Inn Site’ could be turned into a community and cultural hub for Finglas, and could also include affordable apartments for people to rent and buy. I have raised this in the Dáil and with Dublin City Council and to date no action has been taken. This is a new opportunity for the people of Finglas to have their voices heard on such an important issue. It's time for long overdue action to be taken on this by the City Council. It's time to CPO the 'Drake Inn' site. 

Join our campaign to ensure FCC decline planning permission on the following basis :  1. Resident safety –  o increased car traffic and reduced greenspace: ▪ With nearly 90 residential units , the majority who are families with young children in the estate, the existing recreational greenspace of Newpark estate will be heavily and negatively impacted by the proposed development . Our existing greenspace is a very busy and much needed space.  The proposed development would reduce greenspace and would affect the safety of the existing cycle way that leads directly from the Newpark estate playground area– see maps below . The proposed new road access to Newpark Grove would effectively cut across our walk/cycleway and therefore remove the existing safety of this route from the playground and is very close to a corner therefore creating a serious safety risk from children cycling or scooting on their return from Newpark playground and green space . There is already direct access from the Manor house site onto Newpark drive , the council should not approve the taking of much needed greenspace and cycleways from residents to create new roads when they are not necessary.  o Impacts proposed cycleways.  ▪ As part of the Kinsealy area development plan, and following the conclusion of a successful public consultation – link the preferred walk/cycleway to Portmarnock train station will commence adjacent to where the planning permission is proposing to create access into Newpark Grove i.e. this planning permission request proposes a new road that goes across a cycleway that serves as a vital continuous connection into a very strategic proposed longer cycleway that will run to Portmarnock train station. This preferred route through Newpark to Portmarnock will be a strategic development in the coming years for the entire Kinsealy area and it is expected high volume cycling and pedestrian traffic will use this route to access the dart station, therefore it makes no sense to now put a new road directly across this route just to satisfy the financial gain of a developer to the detriment of residents and Kinsealy area safety. ▪ Kinsealy residents have been campaigning for many years now and have been in regular contact with Fingal County council to INCREASE our walk/cycleways, this proposed development TAKES AWAY from the very limited ones we already have.  2. Harm to character of the greenspace: o The Kinsealy manor house is an important and historical feature in the area, and this was one of the reasons previous planning permissions were refused. Accordingly, now building 3 modern MEWS houses directly on the site of this impressive building will impact the character of the protected structure.  3. Overdevelopment of already high-density estate: o Newpark estate is already high density at nearly 90 residential units, adding three more Mews type units is over development and unnecessary. 3 Mews type units does not align to housing shortage argumentation for this area or more generally, it is purely to satisfy the financial gain of the developers and not in the interest of residents.  o Chapel road is now at bursting point in terms of houses vs public infrastructure ratio. There are no buses running down chapel road, no safe access to Dart station, no other way to get to Supermarkets than drive. Chapel road needs capital infrastructure investment by Fingal County Council NOT more residential units that eat our greenspace and create more safety risk for our children.  o The proposed development proposes 1 parking space per unit. Kinsealy area is an area lacking significant structural development with no bus routes, no current access to Dart station, no pathway or cycleway to supermarkets.  1 parking space is not sufficient for each house as so it is likely these units would have parking shortages and be forced to park on Newpark estate roads thus causing blockages for emergency vehicles, impacting ability of children to see cars coming, frustrating existing residents with additional cars parked up on roads that are now free of such parking because houses in Newpark were planned properly with 2 spaces .  4. Environmental impact – loss of existing trees, further additional development in this area of the estate is not recommended given the high level of development in the past few years. This part of the estate should be preserved for nature and existing protected structures both to the benefit of the environment and resident wellbeing.  5. Overlooking residential playground resulting in privacy and wellbeing concerns for residents  – overbearing development of MEWs housing proposed to be almost directly on top of children playground and recreational space.   

We are calling for the traffic lights to be properly aligned with the designated pedestrian walkway to make this crossing safe for everyone. By signing this petition, you are helping to protect our community and prevent a potentially tragic accident.

Many asylum seekers are already part of our communities. They work in essential sectors, pay taxes, support local businesses, and contribute to Irish society, yet they remain in long-term uncertainty about their future. Regularising long-term contributors would strengthen communities, help address labour shortages, increase tax compliance, and reflect Ireland’s values of fairness, dignity, and compassion. These individuals are our co-workers and neighbours, and they deserve the chance to fully integrate and build stable lives in the country they now call home.