Newsletter of

Senator Katherine Zappone

Dear Resident

Welcome to my newsletter with updates on my work on the issues that impact on people in Tallaght, Templeogue, Rathfarnham and the surrounding areas.

This is a time of worry for many. As I joined people on the streets in Tallaght recently, it was clear they were not protesting solely about water charges, but also about the impact of cutbacks, the failure to reform politics and shock revelations of big bonuses.

In the Oireachtas I have raised all of these issues on your behalf. The experience of the water crisis has shown us that the Government is pausing to reflect, but we must keep the pressure on in order to achieve real change.

As a first step, we must see Government re-investing in South Dublin. The impact of the cuts which became the norm during the years of austerity must be reversed.

Recent expert reports showing that many women and children in particular are suffering the brunt of the cutbacks are deeply worrying and require political action. It is unacceptable that the gap between men and women has widened during the recession while more of our children are opting out of school early.

Those who are the most vulnerable have had to bear too much of the burden of austerity cuts, which is why I will be insisting that Ministers ensure that their new social housing strategy will deliver the 500 housing units expected in South Dublin.

The long term challenge must be to reform Irish politics forever, so that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated. We need a system which is clear, fair and just for all.

Everyone should play a part in reforming politics, which is why I continue to extend an open invite to people in South Dublin to forward me their views, so together we can deliver real reform.

Yours,

Senator Katherine Zappone

Senator Zappone and Mayor Fintan Warfield opened the ITT Volunteers’ Fair on October 7th. Senator Zappone: “Delighted to open the Volunteer Fair at IT Tallaght, a place of great learning and innovation”. Pictured with the Mayor and Angela Feeney, Head of Humanities Department at IT Tallaght.

Contact DetailsSeanad Éireann, Leinster House,

Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Tel: 01 6183583

Email: katherine.zappone@oireachtas.ie

Facebook: facebook.com/kzapponeofficial

Twitter: twitter.com/SenatorKZappone

Instagram: instagram.com/senatorkzappone

Independent Senator (Taoiseach’s Nominee)

Winter 2014

SeNaTor ZappoNe marCheS wITh The waTer proTeSTerS IN TallaghT - “ThiS iS noT juST abouT The WaTer chargeS buT alSo abouT cuTS, auSTeriTy and failure To reform”

Senator Zappone marched with the Water protesters in Tallaght on November 1st. Later that day, the Senator voiced the concerns of the people on RTE Radio 1’s Saturday with Brian Dowling. (continued next page ➤)

SeNaTor ZappoNe marCheS wITh The waTer proTeSTerS IN TallaghT - ➤ continued from front page

Senator Zappone marched with the Water protesters in Tallaght on November 1st. Later that day, the Senator voiced the concerns of the people on RTE Radio 1’s Saturday with Brian Dowling.

Senator Zappone said: “One of the main reasons I marched with the people in Tallaght is that I wanted to hear their concerns and why they had chosen to come out in such numbers. It is clear people want a water system with transparent management and governance procedures ensuring everyone is treated fairly and justly. The practice of a small group of Ministers using closed door meetings to call the shots has failed and is not restoring public trust. Further, many people do not have the cash to pay for water. They just don’t have it. This must be taken into account as well.”

The Senator has called on the Government to put the water charges on hold and she has co-signed a bill with Senator Feargal Quinn that aims to prevent Irish Water demanding householders’ PPS numbers.

The Senator also calls for the legislation establishing Irish Water to revert to the Oireachtas so that public representatives can re-engage in the process to ensure that the delivery of the service is fair, sustainable and encourages conservation.

“The Government has promised to bring much needed clarity to the water charges issue – however, they also need to address who is in charge at Irish Water, the accountability of the company to public representatives and the best way to deliver a fair, just and equitable billing system.”

Senator Zappone has brought the voices of those who took to the streets in their tens of thousands to the Seanad and will continue to do so.

“What is clear is that the anger in Tallaght and communities throughout South Dublin is not just about water. The mismanagement of the water crisis is just the tipping point of people’s frustration. The people in South Dublin have very little confidence left in the Government. Now is the time for the Ministers to listen to the voices on the streets, not turn a deaf ear to their anger, not only to the water charges issue but also to outcry over the legacy of cuts, austerity and a lack of political reform.”

On 8 October, Senator Zappone hosted a Public Forum on the Best Budget for Everyone in Ireland in Tallaght, bringing together both experts and members of the community. Dr. Nat O’Connor, TASC, explained that people—both rich and poor—benefit from increased equality through efforts like investment in quality public services. Dr. Mary Murphy, NUI Maynooth, explained that the government socially disinvested in the people of Ireland during the austerity period. The budget must provide support to allow people achieve a living wage, and must socially reinvest in areas like housing, health and education. The residents of South Dublin discussed their budget concerns, detailing problems stemming from the austerity period and presenting considerations and possible solutions for budget 2015.

On the 14th of October in the Seanad, Senator Zappone incorporated many of the concerns and suggestions raised at the Public Forum into her budget analysis. She stated that Ireland pursued a policy of massive social disinvestment during the austere period.

Senator Zappone criticised that many in Ireland will only receive a marginal benefit from the tax cuts and only the top earners will receive a large tax relief. For example, the tax rate reduction from 41% to 40% for top income earners will only benefit one in six adults or one in three workers. Half of Irish women, who earn less than €20,000 a year, will not benefit from these cuts. With regard to taxation, only the change in the Universal Social Charge helps low-income earners. Senator Zappone commended this measure, but then asked the Government why it failed to implement progressive reforms in this budget, such as closing costly loopholes in the existing tax system.

Senator Zappone proposed that funding should have been targeted at groups particularly hit hard by social disinvestment, including women, children, those on social welfare, and lone parents. Measures that could have drastically improve the lives of many in low and middle incomes in Ireland such as tax relief for childcare, an additional year of early childhood education, social payment rate increases, increased disability services, adult literacy support, lone parent

Zappone Hosts Pre-Budget Public Forum to engage with the citizens and brings theirs voices to the Oireachtas

Dr. Nat O’Connor (TASC) and Dr. Mary Murphy (NUI Maynooth) speaking at the Public Forum.

She asked the Minister Alan Kelly to outline when South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and other local authorities can expect to receive details and guidance on the timeline and funding in relation to the recent budget announcements and the proposed housing strategy. In her speech, the Senator noted that 143 South Dublin families have been placed into or assessed as requiring emergency accommodation in 2014. In October, there were 25 South Dublin families living in Hotel accommodations across the Dublin region. At the same time, the SDCC is awaiting approval from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Governance for up to 500 new social housing units. The Budget 2015 provided a much needed investment of €2.2 billion in social housing over the next 3 years and €10.5 million increase in funding for Homeless Services and Accommodation. Last week, one day after Senator raised the issue in the Seanad; an additional €4 million was allocated to Dublin City Council, which oversees the provision of homeless services for all four local authorities in Dublin, including SDCC. This will be in addition to the Council’s normal homelessness allocation for 2014. Senator Zappone welcomed the Minister’s decision to provide additional funding for homeless services in Dublin. However, she reminded the Government that the promised strategy on social housing needs to be a top priority. “Dublin’s homeless families must not be left in limbo over the winter by delays in the Government’s social housing strategy. The Local authorities urgently require the promised resources in order to move ahead with their programmes to house families and individuals who are presently facing a winter in emergency accommodation or sleeping rough.”

On 22 October, Senator Zappone questioned the Minister for Health about the high-risk situation for patients in Tallaght Hospital. Senator Katherine Zappone called on Minister Varadkar to outline the Department’s response to the HIQA Report of two unannounced inspections in July and August.

The report raised serious concerns over infection control, patient safety, basic hygiene, and hospital maintenance. She asked how, in a time of global worry over Ebola, does the Department expect hospitals to cope with outbreaks if basic, routine standards of hygiene are not met?

Minister Varadkar emphasised the positive steps taken, expressing his confidence that Tallaght Hospital remains fully committed to ensuring the highest level of compliance to prevent and control of healthcare-associated infections.

Senator Zappone stressed that the situation must be tackled urgently, raising concerns of overcapacity and understaffing stemming from austerity measures. “Many people cannot afford to opt-out of the public system for private healthcare. The government must guarantee a basic standard of patient safety for all.”

Senator Zappone questioned Minister for Health about the concerns of overcapacity and understaffing due to austerity measures at Tallaght Hospital

Senator Zappone with Kemi Adenekan at the Public Forum

An Cosán, co-founded by Senator Katherine Zappone and Dr. Ann Louise Gilligan, is dedicated to supporting equal opportunity and access to education for the Tallaght Community and its surrounds . The An Cosán Scholarship Scheme was set up 14 years ago by Zappone and Gilligan and is funded by the family of the late Garret & Joan FitzGerald.

The recipients of the awards are selected from schools in the Tallaght West area. This year’s winners are; Lee Yeates from Killinarden Community School, Nichole Chatham from St Mark’s Community Schools and Stephen Eastwood from Mount Seskin Community School.

An Cosán Footsteps Scholarships were also awarded to Laingo Bergin and Foluke Oladosu who have enrolled in An Cosán’s BA Degree in Leadership & Community Development, and to Emma Baker, Daiva Baltramonaitiene, Michelle Gooding and Sarah Butler who are completing their final year in a BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood Education & Childcare.

SeNaTor ZappoNe prompTeD The mINISTer To DelIver buDgeT promISeS oN SoCIal HOuSing TO

Register to Vote now to make History in 2015

Energising young people and involving them in the democratic process is one of the great challenges we face. The Marriage Equality Referendum planned for 2015 is an opportunity to end the disconnect between politics and the younger generation caused by decades of failure to deliver real political reforms.

It is a failure of politics that one in three people under 25 are not registered, and 8 out of 10 young people did not vote the last time we had a referendum. Now we can end that.

By encouraging young people to register now not only will we ensure history in 2015, but also we will set the country on a course where people of all ages will re-engage with politics and use their voice to deliver reforms in every part of Irish life.

On November 1st 2014, the Draft Electoral Register for 2015 was be published. It’s important to visit www.checktheregister.ie so that you have time to add your name before November 25th 2014.

If you check the Draft Register and your name is not on it, or your address/polling station is wrong, visit www.checktheregister.ie and download an RFA1 form. Fill in this form, and post it before November 25th 2014 to the address below:

South Dublin County Council,Register of Electors,Corporate Performance & Change Management,County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24

If you wish to get involved in the Marriage Equality Referendum, please contact me on Katherine.Zappone@oireachtas.ie

how To regISTer To voTe IN SouTh DublIN

The Union of Students in Ireland with the support of Senator Katherine Zappone launched a campaign as part of its wider voter registration campaign to encourage young voters, particularly students, to register to vote ahead of the close of the primary register of electors. The ‘Could You be the One’ campaign highlighted the importance of one vote and how every vote makes a difference.“This registration campaign is a very important opportunity to end the disconnect between politics and young people caused by decades of failure to deliver real political reforms. Students are fully engaged with the issue of marriage equality but it is vital that they realise you must register now to make history in 2015.“

Senator Katherine Zappone is an I n d e p e n d e n t member of Seanad Éireann and a former C o m m i s s i o n e r with the Irish Human Rights Commission (2002-2012). She has also held leadership positions in the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the Centre for Progressive Change, Ltd.

She is co-founder of An Cosán, Ireland’s largest community education organisation located in Jobstown, with her spouse Dr Ann Louise Gilligan.

She holds a PhD from Boston College, an MBA from the Smurfit Business School and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from UCD School of Law.

Since entering politics in 2011 upon her appointment to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach, she has published legislation and has argued for political reform, equality in education, financial justice, human rights and gender equality.

For Community group leaders & teachers If any groups are interested in a tour of Leinster House, Senator Zappone’s office would be delighted to organise the event with you. Please email Magdalene.hayden@oir.ie for more information.

an evening with al porter and gloria in aid of marriage equality

Senator Zappone and Dr. Ann Louise Gilligan will be speaking at an evening with Al Porter and Gloria in aid of Marriage Equality, as part of Social Inclusion Week at the Civic Theatre at 8PM on Sunday Nov 23rd. The Dublin Lesbian and Gay choir will also perform. For further information, visit www.marriageequality.ie