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DSPCA

Texan snake discovered at St James's Gate

He’s been called JR, obviously.

STAFF AT DIAGEO Logistics Centre were delivered a surprise package from the US this morning…JR the Snake.

The snake had made its way into the container in Texas (hence the name) before being shipped to Ireland.

The Dublin SPCA were contacted and an ambulance was sent to rescue JR. He was brought to Bairbre O’Malley’s veterinary surgery because she is one of the leading authorities on exotic pets.

Luckily, O’Malley was able to confirm that JR is not a poisonous species. However, he is an unusual type of corn snake.

After travelling all that way, poor JR is underweight and dehydrated but the vet has promised to nurse him back to health at the surgery.

JR is one of many snakes and reptiles that the Dublin SPCA has rescued over the years but he is the first one from Texas. Some are still looking for homes and are currently staying in the animal rescue and adoption centre in Rathfarnham. For more information go to www.dspca.ie

JR the Snake
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  • JR the Snake

  • JR the Snake

  • JR the Snake

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26 Comments
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    Mute Martin Curran
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:41 AM

    So she gets €950 per month rent allowance, €188 pw social welfare, €20 pw fuel allowance, €29.80 pw (x3 as per child) and a montly childrens benefit payment….this coupled with medical cards and free travel….yeah she has it tough. The rest of us are the fools working.

    821
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    Mute defcon5
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:45 AM

    Don’t forget 35 per month for gas and 35 per month electricity, also free tv licence and up till recently free landline. I swear I’d laugh if it wasn’t so disturbing. Just waiting in the bus in the rain headin to work what a mug I am. These people should be moved around the country to available housing if they want it for free. I had to move away from my home town to buy a tiny place couldn’t afford to buy where I’m from. That’s life

    474
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    Mute David Conroy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:53 AM

    I agree 100%, rent going from €900 to €1300 in D15 !! Does not add up.

    142
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    Mute Conor McGuinness
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:53 AM

    Martin, don’t be silly. A private landlord gets €950 a month from the state, not this family. But of course that way of looking at it doesn’t fit with your agenda, and judging by your agenda, you’re probably all for state subsidising of the rich.

    96
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    Mute Martin Curran
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:58 AM

    But the landlord is getting the €950 on behalf of the family, the state are not giving it to them to subsidise them for the crack!

    170
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    Mute Fergus Gaffney
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:02 AM

    She won’t have free travel you clown!

    116
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    Mute Fergus Gaffney
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:06 AM

    She also won’t be getting the gas or electricity allowance or any of the other benefits like free television allowance! These comments just highlight the ignorance and laziness of the Irish workforce when they can’t be bothered to do two minutes research before making such stupid comments

    211
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    Mute TalkingSence
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:07 AM

    She’ll prob protest about that too so..

    111
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    Mute Martin Curran
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:20 AM

    Fergus I think you and Gwen should get a room…. Why are you so angry? Us the work force are paying for all of this so we are entitled to comment on it. I made an error re free travel, granted she wont need this as she does not need to travel to work.

    208
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    Mute Ink Toner
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:30 AM

    Is it any wonder they are flooding in from overseas! What a great little country is !

    142
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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:30 AM

    Defcon.. I lost my job last year and never once felt like “a mug” working.. I am on jobseekers allowance now.. I cant pay my bills, buy clothes, treat the kids, get the car fixed, visit the husbands family in UK, get my hair cut. Things are not “easy” when you are on social welfare. Everything costs money. You even need money to look good. I dont even own make up anymore. My ESB bill is overdue. We dont have SKY or a landline.. Yes luxuries like that had to go

    Be thankful for your job.. I was when i had one.. And i sure as hell didnt spend my time judging other people.

    As for the family above, i’d move heaven and earth to keep my own together. She obviously cannot afford to at the moment. She isnt looking for a world cruise ffs. She is looking for a roof over her head..

    251
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    Mute Fiona Ryan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:45 AM

    Fair play Sinead, this myth of the “welfare queen ” has been a detriment to people’s perception of the unemployed since the beginning and trivialises the horrendous impact being on welfare has on a persons mind and finances

    130
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    Mute Shane Hickey
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:46 AM

    The point is she should move somewhere cheaper

    In the eighties they had a move west scheme for people living in Dublin who were out of work. I know done people who took it up and they are delighted that they did

    137
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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:53 AM

    Sinead nobody is suggesting that people on social welfare are well off. The fact is that many of us who are working and trying to pay bills are in a similar situation to your own so it can be annoying to hear about somebody looking for rent allowance in excess of €1000 per month when she could rent a house got half that in other parts of the country.

    164
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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:54 AM

    Don’t say that, I nearly got shot on Sunday for something similar, those people are here to help us and contribute to our society by enriching or culture and make us better people, noway are they here for the dole, medical cards, rent allowance, working for cash in hand, they don’t do that ok and to say they do is awful, what harm is it that over 100,000 , yes thats over one hundred thousand foreigners are on the dole and claiming rent allowance, we are all European, and don’t forget the millions sent abroad every year for child benifit, but the people are right, attack the landlords and the Irish

    67
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    Mute Ciara O'Halloran
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:01 AM

    Everyone is missing the point of this article. I would suggest contacting Joe Higgins, anytime my family had any problems he was very very helpful & based in Blanch too.

    40
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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:03 AM

    Ciara its great that you get the point but we all missed it. Tell Joe I said hi

    56
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    Mute Conor Burke
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:03 AM

    Well said Fergus and Conor Mc G, comments here are typical of the uninformed conservative outlook of many who buy into stereotypes rather than informing themselves with the facts of a situation. I suppose by their warped logic all people on social welfare are just lazy spongers, never mind the fact that the vast majority of social welfare claimants worked full time during the boom or that currently there are 28 people applying for every available job vacancy. The facts are that the cost of living is on the rise all state supports are being cut along with wages for those in work. So if those on here with the holier than thou attitude would take their heads out of their arses for just a sec they might take a look around and see who’s really screwing them, but that may require a certain level of critical thinking skills that I fear are sorely lacking based on the level of intelligence on display. Red thumb if you want although you’ll only be proving my point ;)

    87
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    Mute Ashling Flynn
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:07 AM

    Shes not looking for her rent allowance to be increased she is looking for a cap to be put on the amount that a land lord can charge.

    93
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    Mute Thomas Dooly
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:48 AM

    Hope that she’s looked after well , must be extremely worrying time for her :(

    40
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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:38 AM

    Why should the landlord be capped, they worked and bought the house so why should anyone come along and say what they can charge for it

    59
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    Mute Florence Nightingale
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:55 AM

    @defcon5

    “Don’t forget 35 per month for gas and 35 per month electricity, also free tv licence and up till recently free landline.”

    No. Not even close. No one on welfare gets these dispensations. Pensioners get some allowances towards electric, phone and TV license but everyone else, including those on the dole, do not get any of those allowances. So you’re wrong.

    This is the trouble with the perception of people on welfare. It’s not accurate. The media and government have done a great job of distorting the reality of being on the dole.

    44
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    Mute Conor McGuinness
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:26 PM

    The landlord is getting the €950. I’m glad you conceded that.
    The landlord gets it because s/he had money to spare bought property/ies that they don’t need in order to make more money. The family get the use of the house so they can stay warm and dry, live a dignified life, say off the streets, educate their children etc.
    So yes, both the family and the landlord are getting something from the state. The landlord cash money and the family a necessity of life. If I were te begrudging kind I know who my target would be..

    24
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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:28 PM

    Exactly. It is all about Perception. The media do a fine job creating the perception which all adds to the real agenda of Auto Genocide. Divide and conquer. Pit one group against an other and keep them busy and distracted while the real agenda is to destroy both the low and middle classes. History is merely repeating itself, except this time the genocide is all planned from the inside- like Trojan Horse tactic.
    Those who research know the group/charity involved.

    18
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    Mute Karolyn Cassidy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:45 PM

    Why can’t we bring back the magdeline laundries for people like this, institute them and of needs be ren

    22
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    Mute Karolyn Cassidy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:46 PM

    If needs be remove the children from her! Put her on j

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    Mute Karolyn Cassidy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:52 PM

    Jobs bridge and hike childcare prices up more, if she wants the kids back she will have to pay the 200 a week per child while holding her jobsbridge job at the local deli. She should just be grateful for being alive. People throw out good food everyday why can’t loan parents start searching in dumpsters to feed themselves? And wherever the father or fathers of these kids is give him a raise and tell him to spread his seed more as it’s gods will. And I really hope this woman has been churched if not we should demand as a nation that she is.

    24
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    Mute Michael
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    Feb 26th 2014, 1:44 PM

    Christ Conor, who do you think pays for that?

    Dare I call troll, or just uninformed?

    7
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Feb 26th 2014, 3:01 PM

    Sinead, with respect – Social Welfare is to assist your life – not your lifestyle. The luxuries you refer to are part of a lifestyle that you once had when you earned your own money. It’s not meant to be easy, we can’t afford for it to bee easy otherwise where would the incentive be to return to work.

    If the woman was only “looking for a roof over her head” then why didn’t she look further out or in different parts of Dublin.

    She’s looking to live in the area of her choice, this area is a high demand, low supply area. Many private renters can’t afford 1300 per month – who do they complain to?

    The fact is that they don’t complain – they are the ones who make the very, very difficult choices that this woman would not consider.

    47
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    Mute Tommy C
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    Feb 27th 2014, 12:11 AM

    Sinead, but you still pay for the internet.

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    Mute Dublinguy2013
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:34 AM

    Maybe she can get a job like most other people in this country and pay her own rent. Also very bad example to set her children about welfare.

    439
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    Mute Andy Harding
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:40 AM

    Maybe she cannot find a job did you ever think that is the case I am sure she does not like the situation she is in .

    118
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    Mute Dublinguy2013
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:44 AM

    That’s bull. I’d do any job to look after my family. She’s more concerned about getting likes on Facebook that actually looking for a job.

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    Mute Tony Garcia
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:44 AM

    Andy, if she can’t find a job then that’s what she should be protesting about…

    171
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    Mute TalkingSence
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:44 AM

    That’s very doubtful, she has no problem advertising the “situation” that she is in. These spongers are all too common unfortunately.

    191
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    Mute Noel Keary
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:45 AM

    I agree. If she can’t work for whatever reason and she can’t afford to pay the rates in Dublin than maybe she should move to another town where rents are more affordable.

    249
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    Mute Robert Callaghan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:50 AM

    Noel,

    My thoughts exactly.

    118
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    Mute Conor McGuinness
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:55 AM

    Johnny, maybe, maybe, maybe.
    The facts of the case are reported above, maybe discuss them rather than imagining the maybes.

    25
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    Mute Andy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:10 AM

    These situations aren’t always as black and white as some of the opinions above would imply. Granted, were are all entitled to our opinions but an intelligent opinion goes much further than some of the black and white opinions above.

    54
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    Mute Mark Hannon
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:10 AM

    Where’s the father in all this then!?! If he’s done a runner then I’d imagine she’s getting a fairly cushy welfare cheque when you add up all the lone-parent, job-seekers payments etc!! Agree with the above comments totally!! Sponging for everything!!!

    130
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    Mute Kris O Kay Kay
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:14 AM

    So she expects the taxpayer to fork out €1,400 so she can stay in her house…..maybe she could get a job and pay for her rent….or move somewhere more affordable Luke anyone else would do. Constantly with the paw out…I wonder would the taxpayer mind paying €1,400 towards my mortgage…now wouldn’t that be nice.

    150
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    Mute Trisha Brennan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:19 AM

    Read the article. Her younger children are staying with their father while the eldest child is living with her grandmother.

    41
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:04 AM

    Where are all these jobs? Must be in jepardy as that appears to be the only place that seems to have jobs.The Minister for Self Protection Burton is only interested in power and her own personal pension.She is a disgrace to the Working poor and the unemployed ,As is per usual the Labour party are doing the dirty work for the Landed gentry of Fine Gael and helping the rich get ritcher and the poor get poorer.Burton is a bean counter and has no genuine empathy with her fellow man maybe a couple of weeks on jobridge might bring her back down to PLANET EARTH.

    45
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    Mute Kris O Kay Kay
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:02 AM

    There are jobs, maybe not the one you want but there are jobs out there. Get up of your hole and get out there, stop expecting the taxpayer to pay your way from the cradle to the grave.

    43
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    Mute Florence Nightingale
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:04 AM

    @dublinguy2013

    “Maybe she can get a job like most other people in this country and pay her own rent. Also very bad example to set her children about welfare…”

    Meanwhile, in the real world…

    There are approximately 400,000 people on the dole. At any one time, there are 12,000 jobs available to apply for in Ireland.

    Do the maths.

    The media and government are doing a terrific job of demonising people on welfare by making them out to be lazy good for nothing scroungers who are only out for a quick buck.

    But… we are now existing in an economy that favours the people at the top, that offers protectionism and wild tax breaks for the people at the top and where corporations and companies are slashing jobs in a bid to maximise profits. It’s no coincidence that during the recession, when jobs were being lost by the bucketload, companies and corporations became more wealthy than ever.

    There is an upward movement of wealth. People at the bottom are getting poorer and poorer. But let’s keep poking a giant stick at people on welfare. Let’s blame them for the fact that in Ireland, there is one job for every 37 applicants. Let’s avoid dealing with the massive elephant in the room: profit at any cost. ANY cost.

    And let’s not look at the fact that companies that pay their workers a living wage are actually profiting and becoming more successful.

    For example, in the U.S., CostCo pays their staff an average of $44,000 per annum. Their profits went up 19% last year. Walmart pays their staff an average of $17,500 per annum. They are struggling to retain staff. I wonder why.

    People on the dole are simply not the problem. When there was plenty of work we had less than 2% unemployment. Statisticians class that as full employment. When there are jobs available, unemployment goes down.

    Please don’t spout government and media rhetoric without fully understanding why you’re doing it.

    43
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    Mute Liz Quinn
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:47 AM

    Right yeah, cause child care is so cheap and totally feasible on minimum wage for all the piles of jobs out there. I suppose it makes you feel better to think you are a go getter rather than merely lucky…

    31
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    Mute Weddingcar Ie Wexford Limo
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:47 AM

    Iv just looked up on Daft there are two at least 3 bed homes in Finglas asking for €1000 and 2 bed for €950.
    So im sorry but no need to be homeless if the state are paying €950 towards their rent !!

    358
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    Mute johngahan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:51 AM

    Yes, but this family want a south facing garden.

    The parents sunbathe 9-5 weekdays. Surely they are entitled to their privacy .

    311
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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:57 AM

    A LOT of landlords won’t accept rent allowance.

    201
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    Mute Fiona Ryan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:39 AM

    The vast vast majority of housing on Daft (and in general) don’t accept rent allowance. But don’t allow that to stop the blame crusade from attacking the victim and not the rent gouging, profiteering landlord or the austerity that created this situation in the first place.

    69
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    Mute johngahan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:05 AM

    What is the legality of refusing to accept rent allowance? Sounds like a form of discrimination to me.

    59
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    Mute Michael O'Connor
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:14 AM

    I thought that, by law, a landlord can only put rent up by a maximum of 10% in any one year. Am I wrong????

    22
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    Mute Alexoz
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:18 AM

    The price of the rent is well too high, excuse of landlord: propriety tax….reality: spend good time in their “small” propriety in Spain…

    17
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    Mute melweiser
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:55 AM

    With rent allowance you cannot rent a property that is above the €950 allowance so if the property is €1000 she cannot rent it. If the €950 properties are accepting rent allowance then you turn up to view said property with a queue full of other people in the same circumstance as you and the landlord rents it to 1 person. It is the height of ignorance to make judgements on people based solely upon the fact that they are in receipt of social welfare. I hope that none of you ever have to struggle financially and deal with the abuse that comes with finding yourself hopelessly unemployed.

    59
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    Mute Patlyndo
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    Mar 1st 2014, 6:42 PM

    Well a lot clearly do because it’s a massive bill each year…………….

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:45 AM

    No one gives me rent assistance.
    How do I get €950 per month?

    243
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    Mute Conor McGuinness
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:02 AM

    Taoiseach, be rich, then the state will send tonnes of money your way.. Maybe even €950 for each unit in your property portfolio. You’ll probably even get a bit extra out of their dole, ye know that payment calculated exactly to be enough to live with in this state. Only problem is that the transaction is recorded, so you’ll have the pay tax. But don’t worry, you’ll make it back next month..
    Scrounges, spongers, sense of entitlement.. We’re looking at the wrong people, it’s the private landlords ( you know those people with investments that got bailed out by us, that speculated on property, orchestrated a housing crisis, destroyed demand, and contribute nothing to society or the economy..)

    56
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    Mute Sutt Steve
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:36 AM

    What are you talking about you clown, The landlord owns that property they are renting, how is that sponging exactly when you are providing a service? ie giving someone use of your property in return for money?

    If you think landlords are the ones who profited from the bailout you literally are an idiot with no clue, besides most landlords won’t accept rent allowance anyway there’s far more demand in the private market

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    Mute Conor McGuinness
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    Feb 26th 2014, 1:36 PM

    I must have hit a nerve with you Sutt…

    Your economics isn’t up to scratch, but I know what you mean when you say that landlords provide a service, and although I might phrase it differently, I don’t disagree. But really, what has that got to do with anything?

    I am not demonising, nor trying to demonise landlords. I’m just pointing to the disparity between media and commentators’ treatment of landlords and of unemployed renters.

    I never stated that landlords either a. profited from the bailout or b. we’re the only ones to profit from it. The fact however that this idea was in your head is telling..

    Tool.

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    Mute TalkingSence
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:38 AM

    Why can’t she move somewhere that she sorry “we” can afford to pay for her rent?? It’s not rocket science.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:58 AM

    In fairness, three school-age kids must make moving extremely difficult.

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    Mute TalkingSence
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:03 AM

    “Difficult”is not a valid excuse. We all have to do difficult things to get by.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:09 AM

    How about not wanting to unduly stress her eldest daughter while she’s in the Leaving Cert cycle and is soon to sit some of the most important exams of her life?

    I’m not impressed by this social media stunt and I think Joan Burton’s letter to the family is pretty balanced. But to say that Dubliners should trek halfway across the country or more to find somewhere to live is a little extreme.

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    Mute TalkingSence
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:16 AM

    Really, who said half way across the country. More spoofing..give it up lad.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:21 AM

    There was talk of Leitrim elsewhere in this comment section and the rest of the Pale isn’t much cheaper than west Dublin.

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    Mute OGGIE3rd
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:04 AM

    I’s always laugh at peoples who say they talk ‘sence’ lol lol lol I’s do be thinking ..lol that it’s should be ‘ since’ lol lol lo blah blah blah ..lol lol

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    Mute Liz Quinn
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:44 AM

    Where do you suggest she move to exactly? Plus she has one child doing the leaving cert. Do some searches on daft and give some suggestions if you think it is so simple.

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    Mute #Nimby1
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:50 AM

    If she was given an increase,
    Taxpayers have to pay higher tax to pay for this, this would also cause rent inflation and the taxpayer has to pay more for their own rented property . The bottom line is she needs to move to a cheaper area until she is in a position to pay more.
    she can choose to live wherever she can afford like most of us do.
    I believe Leitrim is very nice.

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    Mute Fiona Ryan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:42 AM

    Or we could target the disgraceful money grabbing of the landlords who are pushing the rents across the market up and demand a rent freeze so that people can actually afford a decent living instead of targeting those that are getting welfare as if they’re the problem?

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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:45 AM

    Or we could do both! This problem is not totally one sided. Something has to be done about rents but people on rent allowance have to be realistic too.

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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:46 AM

    Disgraceful money grabbing landlords?? It’s called supply and demand. It’s a free market.

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    Mute talkingsense
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:39 AM

    Get a grip Fiona, landlords rent houses to make money, not provide a charitable service. Why shouldn’t they charge what they want. Just like renters can choose to pay what they want. It just means living somewhere you can afford. I rent a house in an area I can afford not where I think I’m entitled to live.

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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:31 PM

    History repeating itself – To Hell or to Connaght, springs to mind. Now suggested by our own people.

    Wow, did we learn well from our invaders and colonialists.

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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:49 PM

    You could at least spell Connacht correctly

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    Mute James Keane
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:50 AM

    950 a month of tax payers money? On top of other benefits?
    Then holding a protest?

    I don’t even know where to begin with this….

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    Mute Sebastian Gilhooley
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:01 AM

    @ james Keane. I absolutely agree. And that’s not including social welfare, children’s allowance etc…

    And someone earlier said don’t be too quick to judge as we don’t know her circumstances. True. But if this woman is brazen enough to protest on Facebook and demanding more welfare from hard pressed taxpayer’s and an almost bankrupt nation, then im sure her neck is thick enough to withstand some criticism.

    I don’t know her and I don’t wish any ill on her or her family, but her situation says everything about what is wrong with this country and its social welfare system.

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    Mute Sandra Cahill
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:58 AM

    I don’t think she’s looking for more money, I think she’s looking for a cap On rents inline with rent allowance so properties are available and affordable to everyone

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    Mute Jeremy Usbourne
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:16 AM

    She is welcome to leave the capital then to areas where rents are lower & has a better chance of successfully getting a property.

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    Mute OGGIE3rd
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:31 AM

    Only the well off lives in the capital ..lol lol lol I’s am going away for a cup of tea ..lol I’s am laughing out loud ..lol lol

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    Mute Liz Quinn
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:51 AM

    and what would you do if you and your children were homeless? I don’t care what precisely she is looking for, it is absolutely shocking in this rich first world nation that anyone is homeless never mind a woman and her three children.

    Do you enjoy stepping over beggars on the street? Would you prefer that as a welfare system?

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    Mute Sebastian Gilhooley
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:41 AM

    Culture of entitlement alive and well. Fully agree with above comment about bad example to be setting children.

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    Mute Maria Carroll
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:30 AM

    I hate the way people tar everyone on social welfare the same. We lost our jobs five years ago, I was lucky enough to get part time work, but my husband not so. Thanks to the department of social welfare and the HSE and MABS, we were able to stay in our own home, we had help paying our mortgage. It was an extremely stressful time and we also have two kids, one is now gone to college. But things turn and we always tried and I am now happy to say in the last 4 weeks both of us have got good paying full time jobs, are now able to pay our own way, but without those departments and their help we could have found ourselves down a different road.

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    Mute Jayniemac
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:50 AM

    Easy to throw digs at her. Ye don’t know how long she is welfare dependent. Maybe she only lost her job in recent years and is temporarily caught up in the system. Don’t be so quick to tar everyone on welfare as a scrounger. We all know decent people who are dependent on it at one point or another. And it’s not so easy to uproot kids away from schools family and friends when the same rent cut situation could arise in the next place you go and you’re on the move again. Btw I’m not on welfare but I wouldn’t be so quick to knock people especially when you don’t know their circumstances. And maybe she is teaching her kids that sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. Maybe she’s even telling them work hard in school and don’t end up like this. Who knows?

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    Mute Lorraine Valentine
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:49 AM

    Well said Jayniemac…A member of my family found themselves in the same situation and tried without fail to get a job, they worked all their lives and paid taxes for exactly times like these for when they did need help. It’s there to help families out when needed. I wish her and her family well and hope she turns a corner one day like we did and were grateful for the help when it was needed so badly.

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    Mute Carol ni suilleabhan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:41 AM

    It’s a difficult one. I work and earn a good salary but now find myself hopeless about buying a house in the dublin area. Rents are equally challenging. The problem seems to lie in poor planning and poor policies, rather than blaming families like this who are making a valid point albeit I could see that they might not get much sympathy from people struggling to work and pay rent.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:00 AM

    Good reply from Joan Burton’s office.

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    Mute Anne Clarke
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:49 AM

    I pay 2,300 a mo th for my mortgage. My husband works 6 days a week also. We work hard to pay our bills. We receive no hand outs or social welfare. As middle earners we are carrying the bankruptcy of this on our backs. I know people claiming social welfare and working on the side. It amazes me that people still have this sense of entitlement in this country.

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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:11 AM

    Anne you would be classed as “rich” by a lot of the commenters on here. And as you know rich people are evil and should pay more towards our debts so that families like this can get more social welfare. Fooked up country!!

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    Mute Jeremy Usbourne
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:18 AM

    A mortgage of 2,300 per month was ridiculous to get in the first place.

    If you are wealthy enough to borrow so much in the first place, then you don’t need handouts.

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    Mute Liz Quinn
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:57 AM

    I don’t understand where peoplle like you are coming from. What kind of a country do you want to live in? Should we let people like this become homeless andthen complain as we step over their children begging on the street? Is that the kind of place you want for everyone? You work and you derive huge benefits from that. You will own your own house some day, you have fancy tv and no doubt plenty of other things you don’t even perceive as luxuries. I personally bitterly resent bailing out rich bond holders who already have more money that than I will ever have in my lifetime but a woman with three children? Never. Let’s face it, a bit of persistent unemployment and it could easily be you or me.

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    Mute MaryEllen
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    Feb 26th 2014, 3:19 PM

    Completely agree with you. We are the same. There are people on welfare that are actively looking for work.

    There are others that have never worked a day in their lives (and don’t intend to either). Why should I bother to work when I can get it all for free? It annoys me. I pay what 1800 tax a month and my partner pays similar. We therefore pay our own mortgage and for 3 other families!! When I was made redundant years ago the state gave me NOTHING. That woman should go for a smaller 2 bedroomed apartment – she has 3 girls. A house in D15 for 1300 euro is a 4 bed. Why should someone on welfare get tbe same as someone who works there arse off. They shouldn’t!!! There is not incentive for scroungers (never had a job) to get a job.

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    Mute MaryEllen
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    Feb 26th 2014, 3:24 PM

    Yes, people have luxuries because they work for them! If you don’t work then you cannot have luxuries at the expense of the state. We aren’t living in a communist reign.

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    Mute Banking Bad
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:34 AM

    I’d attend the protest but unfortunately I’m in work, so I can’t make it.

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    Mute Sarah Ni Fhaoilean
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:17 AM

    I see the sense in Joan Burtons letter, everyone is finding rent difficult and having to move to cheaper areas to rent. So why can’t they?

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:54 AM

    I don’t know enough about this situation to make a real decision ,but I would like to know what the father of the children is doing ,he he in assisted accommodation as well
    The children are probably going to school in the area so this poses a problem for her but on the face of it it’s abad situation to be in

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    Mute Amphroaí Ó hAipilbí
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:24 AM

    I scrolled down to these comments, gritting my teeth in expectation of a glut of anti -government rhetoric from the “entitlement” brigade, and was very pleased to find the opposite. If this lady is so unhappy with her circumstances, then it is quite rightly up to her to improve them.

    Thank you all for restoring my faith in common sense!

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:35 AM

    Is this one of those “If i get 1 million likes Joan Burton will pay my rent” photos.

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    Mute Nichole Finnegan
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:57 AM

    Bloody spongers! Myself and my husband (both working!) used to live in d15, then had to move much further away from Dublin to be able to afford rent as it started growing in Dublin area. Though sh*t , but that’s life! And we defo won’t have 5 kids and then rely on social welfare to feed them like many do. Our black neighbors was a typical example: 7 kids, being born one after another and living off the state, cos it s easier than working.

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    Mute Lm group
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:01 AM

    Please Nichole, these people are here to help us, don’t say things like that, do you not know that they help us as a society, some of our foreign friends are going to run for election as well, so they can help us more, they even left there own countries with all the problems they have to come here and get elected to help us,, we should be thankful and be happy to pay billions out to them every year,

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    Mute Ben Frank
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:49 AM

    “This could happen to anyone” Nonsense, most people work and pay their own rent. No doubt she has being availing of a myriad of benefits for years and feel she is entitled to a free ride forever.

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    Mute Kel Lynch
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:53 AM

    Has anybody noticed that the amount of spelling and grammar mistakes in this article is ridiculous!?!

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    Mute Kate Murphy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:58 AM

    I swear, sometimes I consider offering to proof-read The Journal’s articles for free, it’s atrocious how many mistakes there are on a daily basis.

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    Mute Amphroaí Ó hAipilbí
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:05 AM

    Indeed, it’s almost as if the business of the day is an inconvenient necessity, serving only to interrupt the office Candy Crush tournament, and the daily grind of phonecalls to the quangos and Trinity alumni who will be writing this weekend’s unbiased opinion pieces.

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    Mute Úna O Connor Barrett
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:14 AM

    There are 90000 people on the housing list in Ireland,what a shocking statistic.None of us know this woman’s situation if she has separated and has no home but has to rent.The government made this country a welfare state not the people.I agree that landlords will not take people who need rent allowance so what’s she to do sleep on the streets with her children.There are families sleeping rough in Dublin people who have been evicted out of their homes by our government.Fine Gael should look at Britain and see how the conservatives destroyed people and communities.Stop having such narrow minds and show some empathy for this family.Never kick a dog when their down as you might be their yourself one day and not always in an ivory tower.

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    Mute Martin Curran
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:24 AM

    Most of that 90,000 are on it solely to get rent allowance for houses that are outside there own means.

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    Mute Wynnner©TeamPanti
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:32 AM

    Martin there are teacher yes teachers that live a couple doors up from me here on a council estate the majority of people who live in my estate work and pay tax.
    I’m sick of blinkered views, it’s really shows how uninformed people are.

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    Mute Patrick Gormley
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:11 PM

    Martin , is it any wonder the immigrants are piling into this country . With these very generous handouts what’s the point in living in abject poverty back in good ole Eastern Europe. God help us..

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    Mute Dexter Ferguson
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:49 AM

    Perhaps we should set up a fund for her. She may need to change her 12d car. Disgraceful how entitled she actually feels.

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    Mute OGGIE3rd
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:02 AM

    Maybe she could get a loan of your Bertha ..lol youse know what I’s am saying ..lol She’s nice , we’s all needs help , yes , youse see , I’s have heart of gold , I’s do ..lol

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    Mute Birch Barlow
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:08 AM

    Ah yes Ruth Coppinger. She loves a good sponger.

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    Mute Jayniemac
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:55 AM

    Exactly dee it’s is about landlord protection…the system is a failure and rents are outrageous these days

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    Mute Kate Murphy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:42 AM

    It’s not clear whether there are housing options available to them within the maximum rent allowance. The family say no, Burton says yes but maybe mot exactly where they want it.
    Anyone know what the case actually is?

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    Mute Dee4
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:46 AM

    the dept of social protection should be called the dept of landlord protection as well, in parts of Dublin they are the market and one the reason prices are high in the first place. Apparently there is foreign money coming in and buying whole blocks of apartments on the the back of state funded tenants.

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    Mute Kelly Duffy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:10 AM

    And by the way it’s people who are on disabilities that get everything free. I pay 280 a month towards my rent which I take out of my children’s allowance. Then I pay my own gas and esb. I don’t go to welfare office for anything. Some people don’t milk the system.

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    Mute Emma McGuire
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:52 AM

    Possibly the most ignorant comment on here “people with disabilities get everything for free”. What a silly, ill educated, vile person you must be.

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    Mute talkingsense
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:47 AM

    Fair play kelly, you pay your share of the rent from the other welfare money you you sponge. Well done. I pay €500 towards my €1000 rent every month. My girlfriend pays the other half. No assistance from the welfare in sight. Us poor mugs out there actually paying our own way.

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    Mute Kelly Duffy
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:07 AM

    They don’t give you the 950 you get so much of it and you pay the rest.

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    Mute Úna O Connor Barrett
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:53 AM

    But it’s ok for TDs to get 100% tax tax break on their Dublin property which is their Second home different rules for them.The disabled people in wheelchairs are housebound because they did away with mobility allowance but they get
    Walking around allowance
    Travel expenses
    Funeral allowance (yes for turning up at funerals
    but don’t knock them their white collar and not Social welfare recipients.
    Wake up and see what the politicians are skimming off us and you will see other people are in pittance.The Eu are now setting up soup kitchens in Ireland.
    It’s time we all sat up and got off our chairs.

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    Mute Eoin O'Connor
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:17 AM

    Judging by the character of the comments and the ratio of green/red thumbs, it looks like the internet traffic of various right-wing libertarian capitalist websites have been redirected here.
    Perpetuating the dominant ideology’s interest in the public hating those dependent on public funds.
    Do you guys not think that a more productive channel for outrage ought to be against state-subsidised banks and corporations rather than poor people merely trying to get by?
    I mean seriously, suggesting they move somewhere else if they can’t afford the rent? What is this, the enclosure of the commons in the 1700s?

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    Mute nialls
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:23 AM

    There’s your first of many red thumbs

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    Mute Eoin O'Connor
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:24 AM

    So?

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    Mute Chris Maguire Allen
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    Feb 26th 2014, 12:12 PM

    The majority of houses on Daft.ie and the like refuse to accept people in receipt of Rent Allowance. So tired of seeing people talk down to those you are une.mployed putting themselves on pedestals because they work. The majority of unemployed have worked for many years. The housing crisis in Dublin is a real issue and that should be the focus here.

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    Mute Iain Oh
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:01 AM

    I’m really astounded by the conversation going on here. But I’m glad I’ve read the comments, because they’ve helped clarify things for me again. Just a couple of years ago, unemployment was almost non-existent in Ireland: because where there were jobs available, people took them. Following the economic crash, unemployment rose dramatically, as we all know- not due to an epidemic of laziness, but because jobs were cut all over the country. There’s no denying it- countless applications are being made for the very few positions that emerge. It is extremely difficult to find work. This is the same across Europe.

    The media and government have done a truly magnificent job in giving the impression that people on welfare are not looking for work and would rather stay at home watching TV. It makes sense- it takes attention away from those really responsible for where we are. The low level of unemployment a few years ago, combined with the huge amount of people applying for various jobs every day, is proof that the vast majority of people do indeed want to work. Work means more than money- why else would those commenting here go out to work every day rather than look for welfare? Because it means a sense of purpose, a reason to get up in the morning, it means meeting people, it means using your strengths. For many, it means not feeling worthless.

    I work, and am fortunate enough to have done so for a few years now, even though this has always involved pretty low-paying jobs and some unpaid work too. I’m glad I work and I know from talking to and living with those unemployed people trying to find work how frustrating and degrading it can feel to be without that sense of purpose, let alone reading headlines on the paper or seeing on the news stories that support the little voice in your head that says “Yes, you are useless. You should be working, there must be something wrong with you if you’re not”. We really need to think about how we speak about other people and the situations they are in. Some people receiving welfare have worked for years, even decades maybe in the same job, and now they find themselves in a situation where a piece of their identity and the people they worked with have been taken away from them. And rather than step all over them, why not try to understand what is going on first?

    I for one am happy to contribute to supporting people until they can find work. There are a very small minority who will always take advantage- for whatever reason- of state supports. There is no denying that. But we have to make sure that our focus is on the vast majority who are struggling and desperately want to get out of the situation. This is the reality of the situation, and while it may be difficult for those of us who have long commutes, low pay, or other unfortunate working conditions to accept, we must remember that it is not those on welfare who made the situation the way it is. It is typical that vulnerable groups are targeted when things get tough- they are an easy target and typically have no strong voice to tell the true story. But if we do so we are missing the point completely. There are times when my job was at risk, or my hours were cut, and looking around elsewhere for alternatives I was told, like others “We aren’t hiring”. I could easily, like anyone else, have suddenly been without work. It wouldn’t have been out of choice, in fact, it would have been the opposite. But just like that, I’d have gone, in many people’s eyes, from being a hardworking man to a ‘benefit scrounger’ in a day.

    I really hope that some day we don’t have to pay as much into welfare. But for now, while the vast majority of people cannot find work, that is the way it has to be. This woman is, from what I understand, brave to speak out when she knows the reaction will be less than understanding in many cases. She is looking for rent control, as the article states- she is not even looking for an increase in welfare. And as we all know, many many houses are not available to those on rent allowance. It is not so simple to uproot your family and take the kids out of school- surely most of us would fight to stay in our home and community in these circumstances? I’d love to hear more about her situation as I think it’s difficult to see the whole picture from these snippets of information. But I hope that she finds a place to stay and work, and I hope the same for any of us if we find ourselves in the same place.

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    Mute Grace Keogh
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    Feb 26th 2014, 11:20 AM

    Very well said!! The lack of compassion shown for people really in need of help is disgusting.

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    Mute MaryEllen
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:17 AM

    It is VERY difficult to find a rental property in D15 at the moment, regardless. A few years ago the rent allowance was going down regularly and landlords had to take the hit. Some landlords had to subsidise the mortgage on buy to let properties.

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    Mute cutsie
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    Feb 26th 2014, 8:35 AM

    Nothing to do with getting or not strong a job. This department is to protect the vulnerable. The children in her care rely on these departments to protect them especially if parents seem negligent.

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    Mute cutsie
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:29 AM

    Anyway how come it’s so difficult to get financial assistance from social welfare and it’s so easy for those rats to take from our wages. We pay twice and sometime three times for services. The only protests I see from people here is when someone I sighting for social welfare. There is plenty of robbing done by our ministers and you guys just sit there and say nothing. You guys are well trained

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    Mute Freetobehere
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    Feb 27th 2014, 12:20 AM

    It is difficult to draw a conclusion or opinion on this as I believe we are not seeing all the facts. What ever the situation of this woman , ie worked or not worked, she is highlighting the poverty trap of rent allowance. Rent allowance is a poverty trap that can actually go AGAINST people who WANT to work as it is completely cut off if one works 30 hours per week.

    The harsh reality is that many parents , whether alone or single, simply have no incentive to work as it sometimes does not pay to work. A lone parent would find it next to impossible to pay rent, inflated childcare from one wage…particularly if not receiving maintanace.

    I do believe the majority of people do want to work, how ever there are people that find themselves in situations that it does not pay them to work due to dated government policies and over inflated childcare costs

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    Mute Eddie
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    Feb 28th 2014, 12:02 PM

    I would just like to to say and put alot of people right this family do not get rent allowance of €950 per month they are only allowed to rent a house which the rent of that house is at maxium of €950 per month and she is not able to get a house for that price if the price goes over €950 she will not get the rent allowance i reckon she gets about €700 towards the €950 she is asking for the landlords to not be charging sky high rents like a fixed rate or something for all propertys

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Feb 26th 2014, 7:28 PM

    I bet she is housed now she has a voice. The people who are ahead of Hebron the list will just have to wait. Watch this space to see what councillors and politicians can do with the houses. Please follow up this story Journal.

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    Mute conor hickey
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    Feb 26th 2014, 9:44 AM

    Is it just me or is Joan pondering to her?
    I don’t know which is the worst of both evils.

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    Mute OGGIE3rd
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    Feb 26th 2014, 10:00 AM

    OMG !! I’s could write better than this article ..lol I’s am so sad that this lovely looking family are in danger of becoming homeless ..lol Youse must hold out your arms to help people that are less fortunate than yourselves ..lol Youse are sticking your noses too much into other peoples business ..I’s see poverty too much , it’s makes me so sad ..lol I’s knows what’s it like to be paying rent allowance too ..lol these capitalist landlords ,these are the lowlifes ..lol

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    Mute Maria Griffin
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    Mar 3rd 2014, 3:51 PM

    When did we become such begruders! The accumulative wealth of this country can well support families in need. This is one example of the people we put in power to represent us, failing us again. Between the needs of the elderly, disabled and mentally I’ll not being met and the countless kids homeless on our streets totally unnecessarily is an utter disgrace! It amazes it always the people with more who protest the most to being charitable. Being with out a home or adaquate care is third world stuff. Such bigots the Irish have become. Sad and shameful

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Feb 27th 2014, 12:09 AM

    Wheres the father of her 3 kids and why isnt he contributing? She could get a part time job to earn the rest of the money to cover her rent.

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