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A PROTEST AT Bray Town Council has been resolved this evening.
Two women and a councillor staged a sleep-in protest at Bray Town Council after arriving at the offices yesterday evening demanding that their housing situations be addressed.
The women and their children had recently become homeless in separate cases in the past number of weeks. After presenting to the council, they were directed to the homeless shelter in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.
However, the women say the open shelter – which only offers shared facilities – is mostly frequented by single men, some of whom have substance and other problems, and is not a suitable place for their young children.
They arrived at the council yesterday evening, demanding that their families be provided with safe emergency accommodation until a long-term solution to their recent homelessness could be established. They refused to return their children to the shelter and said they would not leave the offices until the matter was resolved.
Sinn Féin councillor John Brady also stayed at the council offices in support of the women last night.
In a statement this evening, Bray Town Council said:
Following an intervention by Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council Cllr Mick Glynn, the two women and their families will stay in temporary accommodation paid for by a third party until Tuesday, when they will return to Bray Town Council offices for discussions with officials.Bray Town Council would like to extend their thanks to An Garda Siochana for their help over the last 24 hours.
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In fairness, if your given a month’s notice to leave your property, most decent respectable people get up off their holes and find another property,,, that’s what the majority of us renting have to do!! I am a single mother who works and pays rent to a private landlord cos the council have told me,after 5 years waiting, that I would have a better chance of a house if I either had another child or found a partner,so I could be classed as a family!! Council waiting lists criteria are a disgrace here in cork, but never would I stoop so low to protest at their feet just to get what I thought I was entitled to from them!!
Wake up people and respect yourselves enough to try and support yourself as much as possible!!!
How come you aren’t classed as a family being a single mom? Thats crazy. I cant believe they suggested you would be better of with another child or a man.
Fair play for taking care of yourself and your child and your attitude. Its a great example to set and your kid can grow up proud and with a sense of whats right. Some people could learn from you.
Thanks coffee, it was a local TD that told me to have another child to push myself up the list and the council themselves who said I should find a fella to put his name on the list with me! When I questioned this regarding my lone parents, I was told that was none of the councils business!! It’s all madness, at this rate my daughter will be finished school and moved out before I get offered anywhere.
I don’t drink, smoke or go out socialising to ensure that I have my rent paid first and for most every month, after food and bills, everything else is a luxury to me
@ Lisa – I think what you’re doing is great – really with more like your attitude we’d be in a better place. :)
and your daughter will be the better for seeing you do it Lisa.
Thanks Lt Wolfe, you know what, if we want something out of this life, it’s up to us to get it and I for one, will do what I can to provide for me and my daughter!! Sure we can spend our days bitching and complaining about all the negatives in life, but if we all make individual changes it can only get better for us all in time:-))
Oopps spelt your name wrong!! Forgive me!!! Ha ha:-))
Totally agree and of course you’re forgiven :)
I’m in Cork too and in PR and like you don’t drink smoke or smoke or budget for socialising until the rent, bills and food are paid for so I hear you. Of course I don’t have a child or a partner so I only have to look after myself but I admire people like yourself who get up and make a difference for themselves.
PR = private rented obviously!
Two options in life, get on with or curl up and give up!! And I am no quitter!! But by Christ it’s bloody hard at times as we all know too well these days.
Thanks Dearbhla, appreciate you saying that!
Are you calling these women indecent and disrespectful? Do you know them personally or is it a facetious generalisation typed up on a whim to show the world how righteous you are? Did you ever stop to think that not everyone is as lucky as you. Maybe these women were on the RAS Scheme. This scheme allows them private rented accommodation paid for by the council while they wait for a council house to become available. It’s a very tricky scheme in that it won’t work unless a landlord is willing to participate and most landlords do not. This leaves them in an untenable situation if the landlord sells or has their property repossessed. Four weeks is a very short time if you are on RAS or Rent Allowance, as caps on qualifying properties are now in force. I have almost 20 year’s experience as a mother making it mostly on her own and have on and off experienced the welfare system in this time. This experience has allowed me to see both sides of the fence in infinite detail. I consider myself extremely lucky to be where I am now, employed and just finished paying my mortgage. I don’t however bang my own drum about how I’ve managed. Instead I get out there and help the less fortunate in our society, been there, got out, turned back and helped others out. Good luck to those women, would have done the very same myself if I was in their situation.
Lisa, love your positive attitude, you are an inspiration and Joan Burton should be asking you to work for her as an advisor ! Fair play to you and don’t let the bastards get you down !
Helene – whom are you directing this comment at?
Who said anything about them being indecent or disrespectful?
You are making false accusations against us in this thread.
Helene.. Your Great!!
Apologies Helene… You’re great
Has anyone tried searching for a property in bray that accepts rent allowance?
Didn’t think so..
Not sure who your comment is aimed at, but well done for doing what’s best for you in your life! But it’s my drum and if I wanna bang it loud and clear than I will!
You don’t have to listen!
Thanks David, ha ha if I was her advisor, I would tell her to quit cos she’s a ghoul!
Lisa don’t worry about Helene.
She’s coming off very bitter that you got some support here for your efforts and wants to one up you by saying she did all that plus never bragged about it (which she is doing right now oh the irony and being condescending towards you to boot).
People like Helene…….mmmm best to say nothing at all! As my mother says with people like that, ‘bless’
Lisa, I don’t think you get that not all situations are as simple as ‘getting off your hole’.
Erica, I do believe that getting off your hole can motivate a lot of people to make things better for themselves!! Believe me, I have experienced a lot thru the years and its worked for me, but hey each to their own!! What’s the harm in trying eh!!
Why should people be ‘entitled’ to housing paid for by the state?
What , haven’t you heard of the huge sense of entitlement a large section of our population have?? And the rest of us are “entitled” to pay for it apparently..
they are entitled to be housed by the locAl council – and to pay rent. where do all you gob****** get the idea of “rent free”?
Why dont they just rent privatley Christine?
No Hank, we are not entitled to pay for them. They think we are honored to pay for them.
Christine the rest of us work hard to keep a roof over over our heads … I feel sad for the children . Walk around the city centre and it’s full of homeless people who actually really need medical help let alone homes ? These women are screwing the system and have done so for meny years … SF ! Jeasus , anything for the working class publicity …
Martin you dont even know the people, so how can you judge them you clown.
He doesn’t need to know them. Same type replicated all over ireland. NEWSFLASH: THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT YOUR BABIES DADDY
I thought at least one of them worked? Still they don’t have to pay for their accommodation? Right so…
One of the women did say yesterday that her job was at risk as she was now homeless so yep, at least on of them works, for the moment
yes they pay rent to bray council
Christine,
Currently no and until at least Tuesday no they still won’t be paying rent to anybody.
It’s not hard to read the article.
They don’t want to be on camera because they probably get paid into the hand in the local shop and are on lone parents…..people might notice them!
I’m off to Fingal Co Co with my sleeping bag I feel like a 5 bed semi for me and me Jockie!
Well done to the Journal.ie for highlighting this story, and to John Brady for representing the people in his constituency in the proper manner.
Peal back the layers Denise, very different story, a lot of people put themselves out caus of these people and got burnt! But u and me will be picking up the tab
I bet there is a lot more to do this…why are they homeless? How many council houses have they already had?
Again Denise there has to be more to this story.
Not being cynical just have experience in the the sector.
I pay the tab for the senators who are not elected by the people, go on the website and see the expenses they get.
I for one would like to hear an interview with the women to get the true story
Well done Dick Roche.
I’m off to Harvey Norman tomorrow 1/2 hour before they close to demand that new bathroom suite that I’m entitled to. I’m bringing a sleeping bag.
So the moral if the story is, if you don’t like the accommodation offered to you, all you have to do is go down to your local council office, have a snooze and presto!! you get what you want! great stuff!
Exactly. Two questions.. 1. Are the fathers alive? 2. Have either of these women turned down housing from Bray up to this point? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then they are taking the p!ss out of the taxpayer and wasting the time of Bray town council. As for the Sinn Fein cllr he is probably also voted in by the good people of Bray who work, pay taxes, rates etc. Not impressed I’d say John, not impressed at all.
Great too see they got that free accommodation… the system works folks….
Good Man Seamus, You got a good kick in there with your bully boot, but if a war broke out Id say you would go sick.
Poor aul Denise is a tad bit upset…
Totally agree the system works for people who know how to play it!
This malarkey is just another stunt to get what they are ‘entitled too’
No reason for being put in a hostel they orchestrated this…..
I feel sorry for the kids
I agree, in Ireland you need a licence for a dog but anyone can have a kid !
The Irish seem to be one of the most reactionary races on the planet. As soon as somebody gets a little bit of help there is uproar about “freeloading” and such and such. Surely taxation being used to bring people up to a certain standard of living and protecting fellow citizens from destitution is the only JUST use of taxation at all.
When it comes to building projects or propping museums etc, I do believe that taxpayers money should not be used, especially in this economic climate. In fact the only time I think taxation should be used is these very situations. People moan about “paying for others” but do they not realise people faced with destitution will do desperate things and they wont be deterred by tax funded police. And if they are arrested etc. it is the tax payer who will fund their stay in prison.
That’s just an argument to have the government rob my pocket on your behalf. This is not an example of a desperate situation.
Its not an argument for robbery at all, its an argument for mutual dependence. I am not talking about a vast welfare scheme. In fact it could be funded through negative income tax. Even those such as Hayek and Friedman argued that prevention of destitution is important. Would you consider Hayek and Friedman to be “socialists”?
I believe in the free market, nor do I like government interference in the operation of the free market. But we have to be realistic, sometimes things go wrong for people and they need a hand. Common sense alone would state it is worthwhile supporting a program of mutual dependence.
I think the vast majority of all services provided by government could be provided on the free market, but at the same time people should not be expelled from receiving vital necessities because they happen to be in a position where they cannot afford those services. Why would anybody in their right mind support a free market alternative if there wasn’t some mechanism for protecting those who fall on hard times?
My vision of a free market society is harmony between personal liberty from government and social justice. Your vision seems to be shotgun in hand, defending the homestead, isolationist individualism, which I think would be a very negative society
Wow, you seem to have whole novel out of two short sentences. Impressive imagination.
I do not believe this is an example of destitution. If it’s really a desperate situation then I’d be happy to help. However, I do not appreciate being taken for a ride and that is exactly what I think is happening here.
i for one would like to hear both sids of the story. Come on Joe Duffy JUST CALL jOE
This sounds more like a case for Jeremy Kyle!
get in the queue—i’m always suspicious of the publicity grabbing ,downtrodden ill done by individuals
Would you like to see these women sleeping rough with their children?
No, but I like to think that they would appreciate what ever the fu€k there giving and get on with life and try to better them selfs for there kids sake, not to whine and bull shit about where they get (for Nothing) is not suitable cause its probably not close enough to there fu€ken local or some other needy crutch of theirs. God help us if they had to catch a bus. No, this is Bull Shit, there is a good charitable system in place but there is players out there and these “beggars” are playing the system. The country is on its knees and this is all we fu€ken need!
Sorry for the profanities
Well done to John Brady for going above and beyond to help these two women. We need a man like this in our government. Someone ready to step up and defend his people. Got my future vote without a doubt.
It’s called free publicity.
Can you say “Bollox” on the Journal ?
@LieutenantWorf PR on over time,? Have to say that, every one has the right to live in a home which is warm and dry, the best social services is in Finland, high taxes but comes back at you when in need.
I do believe that many on the welfare round-about have a give me give me attitude , but look at how the very rich behave, who does the Government really look after, the banking Ind is set up for the rich, jobs education etc, is there an answer ? no idea ?
It’s called sincerity.
@Patricia – PR on overtime?? What do you mean by this? There is no overtime in my job.
I’d like a home that’s warm and dry, by the seaside, within walking distance of the DART please.
Social pets. We pay for ever thing . And if you get to close the take the hand off you
If companies like Apple paid the Irish Revenue a realistic amount of the tax which they have skilfully avoided, while playing “musical offices” around the globe, the question of affording accommodating the homeless would be solved.
This is not resolved as your headline suggests! There is no guarantee these women will be given suitable accommodation on Tuesday. This from the council that are wasting money digging up our seafront and Main Street again.
Sums up all that is wrong with this country.. Enough said Sinn Fein involved
This country is holding us single parents down enough as it is without other women in the same situation getting on their high horse and calling these women free loaders etc! Where’s the solidarity??? And yes I do work, I do live in rented accommodation and yes if I was giving 1 month notice to find another HOME and I couldn’t. Dead right I’d protest!!!!
Who’s holding you down? I didn’t think we could afford to hire people specially to hold you down.
Protest what exactly?? That you weren’t able to find a home? An I missing something here? Or is it you think that unlike me and everyone else who would just have to sort it the f$&k out that you should just be handed a house?
Please – run a search on daft for any property in Bray, Greystones, Kilcoole and Kilmacanogue (all areas with viable transport for the kids to school) for a property that accepts rent allowance. That’s the only filter you need, don’t even worry about the cap that is imposed on anyone claiming rent allowance.. Tell us how many you find..
How many houses I find in an Internet search is irrelevant. The point is why should this girl expect to be handed a house when I would have to sort it out myself regardless of how many houses came up in an Internet search!
because we as a society of human beings decided long ago to support those in our community less able to cope with the challenges facing them, we support the young and the old, and the sick and the weak. The social cohesion created by this behaviour benefits all of us. To argue against it now reveals a selfish stupidity within our species that must be eradicated if we are ever to progess.
That’s bullsh$&t. The only difference between me and this girl is that I don’t expect or feel entitled to a house so will have no choice but to just sort it out! These people don’t even try because they believe it they are entitled to it and it should be handed to them. If they had absolutely no alternative but to sort it out them selfs then they would.
The only difference between you and these women right now is that you are in a position to be able to provide for yourself and family (if you have one).
I know people from bray, I know that almost the entire town has shut down, there’s no jobs, there’s no property to rent, and there’s a massive waiting list for council accommodation.
There’s also a shed load of empty properties in receivership with the banks.
You may see it as being overly entitled – but to be honest, you don’t know these women and neither do I. While I am looking at the wider situation of Bray, you are relying on assumptions upon the character of these women.
Which argument is fallacious?
Your argument is fallacious Shanti Om. We don’t have to familiarize ourselves with each and every situation that comes up. The face is that plenty of people are dealing with far worse situations and not looking for handouts. You say we don’t know these women personally, well do you know all the rest of us?
I calculate i’ll only be able to pay rent for another year at most, wonder if anyone will bail me out then?
Well then you would be entitled to some help with your rent, if your landlord is willing.. If not I wish you the very best of luck finding somewhere habitable that a) accepts rent allowance and b) is within the rent caps for your area.
All you complaining about picking up the tab for 2 homeless women and their children wonder do you have a problem picking up this tab.. http://bondwatchireland.blogspot.ie/2013/05/the-dirty-dozen-we-may-26th-2013.html read it and weep..keep it up …your the best :-)
What were the Garda doing there????? This was a peaceful sleepin protest….
Overtime
What, the gardai paid for it.?
Mother of god. Thousands of people march in “support” of Sean Quinn, one of the many people who REALLY destroyed this country yet all we have is anger for anyone on social welfare?
I’m far from a fan of the SW system, it needs reform and there are a huge amount of people either scamming it or who have never contributed to society – these women may be in this bracket but all the same, if you’re unhappy with the system, direct your anger at the right people for gods sake.
I have to admit – you gotta love the assumptions. As you said, these women could be scammers – but there’s no guarantee that they are. They said that the reason the accommodation in Rathdrum was unsuitable was down to safety (not to mention trains from Rathdrum aren’t regular, they cost a packet and the buses aren’t much better), I would have thought this sounded like women who wanted what was best for their kids. But apparently they’re just dole scroungers – as is the verdict delivered by a load of people commenting on an Internet news site who have never actually met them.. I would love to know how they all arrived at such firm conclusions..
Realistically I doubt hugely that they are “scammers”, they may well be working and claiming lone parents and RAS but newsflash, that’s allowed under the current system. The uproar here is all relating to the sense of entitlement that apparently applies to anyone benefitting from a Welfare State. If you don’t like what people are entitled to, be annoyed with those who formed the rules. Be proud of who you are if you provide for yourself and your children, sure but remember that’s your choice. You’d have the same benefits in their circumstances.
The same “Why should I pay…” Debate was running on the childcare threads during the week. There’s a real sense of begrudgery descended on Ireland, it’s very sad.
Mick fkn glynn..thats all you hear with every sad/bad story of bray
.mick “the mayor” glynn.of bray
i dont normally comment on this but i will on this occasion,firstly the women are not looking to be put ahead of anybody else on the housing list, second: they are looking for accommodation that is suitable and safe to bring their kids to until such a time that they can get back on their feet,hostel or otherwise, i dont think looking for a safe environment for your kids is a sin, third: john brady was there in his capacity as their local sinn fein rep and to support them in their right to have safe and secure accommodation in which to bring their kids too, fourth: i see from previous comments that people say,be grateful for what your given,thats the problem with this country people are willing to take any of the crap that this and previous goverments have thrown at them instead of having balls and standing up for what their really entitled too, which is employment with a proper wage, housing and a standard of living
have your say