Respond! News
Archived Respond! News
Respond! Media Centre has been developed to provide information to journalists, other organisations or anyone interested in learning about Respond! and its services.
If you require any further information, or have a media query you would like answered, please contact:
Aoife Walsh, National Communications Officer
Tel: (0818) 357901
Mobile: (087) 7485585
Email: aoife.walsh@respond.ie
You can also check out the
Housing in Ireland Blog which gives regular updates on developments in housing in Ireland.
Good news for those on housing waiting lists
22 Dec 2011
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the announcement by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and NAMA that 2,000 housing units will be made available in 2012 for social housing purposes.
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Respond! welcomes the appointment of Jan O' Sullivan, TD as the new Minister for Housing and Planning
20 Dec 2011
Respond! News
Ireland’s leading housing charity today welcomes the appointment of Jan O’ Sullivan as the new Minister for Housing and Planning following the resignation of Willie Penrose, TD in November.
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Respond! supporting Toy Appeal this Christmas
2 Dec 2011
Respond! News
With many parents struggling to buy toys for their children this Christmas, Respond! Housing Association is pleased to support the St Vincent de Paul, 2FM and SuperValu Toy Appeal.
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Housing Charity calls for radical reform of rent supplement
7 Nov 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling for radical changes to be made to rent supplement as the cost of the scheme has increased dramatically in the past number of years.
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National organisations present key principles to overcome personal debt and mortgage arrears crisis
19 Oct 2011
Respond! News
Respond!, along with other national organisations, warned today that the Government's response to personal debt and mortgage arrears issue is inadequate.
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500% increase in housing waiting lists in just 20 years
19 Sep 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association has expressed disappointment at figures released today indicating that almost 100,000 households are on Local Authority housing waiting lists throughout the country.
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Crisis in homeless services in Dublin could have been avoided
12 Sep 2011
Respond! News
Following reports that Dublin City Council workers are handing out sleeping bags to homeless people at night, Respond! Housing Association has revealed that they were forced to close a transitional housing unit for homeless men in Dublin in recent months.
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Housing Charity increases the number of internships available
25 Aug 2011
Respond! News
Respond! is pleased to announce it is increasing the number of internships it is creating in the Government’s new National Internship Scheme,’ JobBridge’.
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Students outside of Dublin can now obtain UCD Degree through distance learning
21 Aug 2011
Respond! News
For the first time the School of Applied Social Science in University College Dublin (UCD) is offering a Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) degree with a distance learning option.
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Proper education is key to the future of housing in Ireland
20 Jun 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Asssociation believes proper education and training is key to the future of the Irish housing sector.
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Students to kayak world's longest fjord to help 4 Irish charities
1 Jun 2011
Respond! News
A team of students moved by the human tragedy of the recession will kayak down the longest sea fjord in the world to help raise money for Irish charities working with those directly affected by the economic crisis.
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First housing projects opened by new Minister
9 May 2011
Respond! News
Two new housing projects were officially opened by Minister Phil Hogan, T.D. on May 6th 2011 in Counties Tipperary and Carlow. The developments were designed and built by Respond! Housing Association and funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
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Good News for Social Housing Providers
6 May 2011
Respond! News
Respond! is delighted to announce that two new housing developments will be officially opened by Minister Phil Hogan, TD, today, May 6th 2011
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ECB rate increase will inflict further hardship on homeowners
7 Apr 2011
Respond! News
Respond! is calling on the Government to prioritise the mortgage arrears crisis following the announcement that the ECB is raising its main interest rate by a quarter point to 1.25%.
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Action needed on mortgage debt as losses could reach €9.5 billion
1 Apr 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association contends that the difficulties of homeowners are being overlooked as the Government attempts to deal with the banking crisis.
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Last gasp efforts by former Minister to sell off Irish housing estates to English housing associations
18 Mar 2011
Respond! News
Respond! is calling on the new Minister for Housing and Planning to clarify recent reports in an English housing magazine that the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is looking to encourage English housing associations to buy Irish ghost estates.
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More prominent role for new Housing Minister is a positive move
10 Mar 2011
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the announcement by Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the new Minister for Housing and Planning Willie Penrose, TD will form part of the new Cabinet.
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Charity to suffer for the non-payment of a bond by Allianz plc
7 Mar 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association has initiated proceedings against Allianz plc for the non-payment of compensation.
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Housing charity welcomes Programme for Government
7 Mar 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association welcomes the housing commitments made by Fine Gael and the Labour Party in the new Programme for Government. New initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of social housing and ending long term homelessness are included in the programme.
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New housing policy urgently required to address inequalities
2 Mar 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling on the next Government to devise a new strategy for dealing with the inequalities which exist within the Irish housing system.
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The next Government must prioritise mortgage arrears crisis
1 Mar 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling on the next Government to prioritise the mortgage arrears crisis in Ireland.
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€5 million is a step in the right direction but far more will be needed
18 Feb 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Associations claims the €5 million funding allocation to Local Authorities for unfinished developments is a step in the right direction but far more will be needed.
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Critical that housing is no longer left to a Junior Minister
14 Feb 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling for a more prominent role to be given to the Minister for Housing and Local Services.
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More needs to be done as banks increase rates
7 Feb 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling on the next Government to make changes to the Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme without any further delay.
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Critical that TDs vote against Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2009
11 Jan 2011
Respond! News
Respond! is calling on TDs to vote against the Child Care (Amendment) Bill when it comes before the Dáil tomorrow as it fails to provide a statutory right to aftercare to all children in care.
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Government continues to neglect declining property market
5 Jan 2011
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association calls once more for the introduction of a national house price database. An amendment to the Property Services (Regulation) Bill is required to allow for the establishment of a national database but the Government has failed to do it thus far.
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Critical that recommendations are implemented without delay
16 Dec 2010
Respond! News
Respond! calls on the Government to implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission without delay.
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More families will be at risk of poverty following today's budget
7 Dec 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association has expressed disappointment at today's budget which they claim will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in Irish society.
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All lenders must abide by revised code
6 Dec 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association welcomes the Revised Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears but insists it is critical all lenders abide by the code.
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Recovery Plan inflicts further pain on the vulnerable in society
24 Nov 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association maintains that today's National Recovery Plan will simply inflict further hardship on the vulnerable in Irish society.
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NAMA should allocate portion of €5 billion fund to housing charities
22 Nov 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling on NAMA to allocate a portion of the €5 billion completion fund to the social housing sector.
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Expert Group Report will be of little comfort to homeowners
17 Nov 2010
Respond! News
Respond! is disappointed at the recommendations contained in today's final report from the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt.
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Government completely failed to regulate property market
21 Oct 2010
Respond! News
The Government during the Celtic Tiger Years completely failed to regulate the property market and ghost estates are the legacy we must now all deal with.
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Community consultation is key to regeneration
20 Oct 2010
Respond! News
At this week's national community development conference hosted by Respond! the key theme which emerged was the importance of community consultation.
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The importance of the community in challenging times
19 Oct 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is hosting a national conference today to discuss the importance of community development in these challenging times.
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Housing charity welcomes announcement but claims more needs to be done
21 Sep 2010
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the announcement of €60 million for special needs housing by Minister for Housing and Local Services Michael Finneran, T.D. but wants more to be done.
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Number in mortgage arrears increased by almost 40% in just 9 months
1 Sep 2010
Respond! News
The increasing number of families in arrears is a worrying trend according to Respond! Housing Association.
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Critical that new proposals are implemented by all mortgage lenders
13 Aug 2010
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the publication of the consultation paper on the Review of the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears by the Financial Regulator today. The housing charity maintains it is a step in the right direction and calls for its swift acceptance and implementation by all mortgage lenders.
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Property Database is now required as a matter of urgency
11 Aug 2010
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the announcement that a new property database is to be established but maintains it is required urgently.
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Important not to delay changes to mortgage interest supplement scheme
8 Jul 2010
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the publication of the Review of the Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme by the Department of Social Protection but calls for swift action on the report.
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Recommendations welcomed but more needs to be done
6 Jul 2010
Respond! News
Respond! welcomed the recommendations of the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt but maintains more needs to be done.
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Negative equity mortgages are not the way to go
28 Jun 2010
Respond! News
Respond! is concerned that the introduction of negative equity mortgages will ultimately benefit the banks and not homeowners.
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Moral hazard should apply to all or no one
27 Jun 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association dismisses moral hazard as a reason not to assist struggling homeowners.
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Delay in housing scheme not just the fault of the banks
10 Jun 2010
Respond! News
Respond! maintains that the delay in the 'Long Term Leasing Scheme' is not just the fault of the banks.
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The Closure of Conrath House Transitional Housing Project
3 Jun 2010
Respond! News
It is with regret that Respond! announces the closure of Conrath House, Transitional Housing Project in Dublin.
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Worse to Come for Families in Arrears
26 May 2010
Respond! News
Respond! expresses concern at the latest figures released by the Financial Regulator showing an increase in arrears and repossession cases.
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Ireland not prepared for ageing demographic
25 May 2010
Respond! News
Minister Áine Brady launches Respond! National Survey of Older People living in social housing estates.
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Bleak Prospects for Housing Market as Number in Negative Equity Continues to Rise
29 Apr 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is concerned at the increased level of homeowners in negative equity and the impact it is having on the economy.
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House demolition should be the very last resort for NAMA
14 Apr 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association maintains that kncoking down houses should be the very last resort for NAMA with so many people on housing waiting lists throughout the country.
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NAMA needs to help ordinary citizens as well
30 Mar 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association argues that NAMA must assist Irish families as well as banks and developers.
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Ireland's loss can be Africa's gain
16 Mar 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is seeking volunteer building consultants for its development projects in South Africa.
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Mortgage arrears figures are not a true reflection of those in difficulty
3 Mar 2010
Respond! News
Respond! is concerned that the latest mortgage arrears and repossessions figures released by the Financial Regulator today may not reveal the true number of families struggling to repay their mortgage.
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Mortgage Interest Supplement needs to be updated
2 Mar 2010
Respond! News
Respond! is calling for a complete overhaul of the Mortgage Interest Supplement claiming its criteria are too strict.
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Report is welcomed but urgent action is needed now
17 Feb 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association welcomes the publication of the report examining the "High Levels of Indebtedness in Irish Society" but wants action on key recommendations now.
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Mortgage support may be too late for thousands at risk of repossession
1 Feb 2010
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the announcement by the Government that assistance will be offered to homeowners but is concerned at the delay in providing support.
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Tough Year Ahead for Irish Homeowners
14 Jan 2010
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is warning that 2010 could be the toughest year yet for homeowners.
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Spirit of giving alive and well in Waterford this Christmas
14 Dec 2009
Respond! News
Two local organisations join together to play Father Christmas to some of the world’s poorest children.
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Overseas Aid must come before Cross Border Subsidies
10 Dec 2009
Respond! News
Respond! has expresed disappointment at the €25 million cut to overseas aid made in yesterday's Budget.
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Budget fails to tackle key housing issues
9 Dec 2009
Respond! News
Respond! contends that Budget 2010 does little to help families in arrears and living in negative equity.
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Calls for Government not to forget the working poor
7 Dec 2009
Respond! News
Respond! is calling on the Government not to forget the "working poor" in this Wednesday's budget.
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Poor Can't Pay Launch Hard Hitting Viral Campaign
3 Dec 2009
Respond! News
The Poor Can’t Pay Launch a Hard Hitting Viral Campaign Calling on People to Contact TDs to Oppose Cuts as Budget Countdown Begins. The campaign calls on politicians to justify their decisions and stop hiding behind sound bites.
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Housing Charity thanks Council and Army for their assistance during the recent flooding
3 Dec 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association would like to commend both Cork City Council and the Army during the recent flooding and water shortage that took place in Cork City.
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Call for Banks to Forgive Mortgage Debt and Consider Short Sales
1 Dec 2009
Respond! News
Respond! is calling on Irish Banks to consider "Short Sales" for families in arrears and in negative equity.
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Housing Charity welcomes IBF Announcement but remains concerned about sub-prime lenders
10 Nov 2009
Respond! News
Respond! welcomes the IBF announcement in relation to those in mortgage difficulty but is still concerned about those with mortgages from sub-prime lenders.
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Unreported Voluntary Surrenders a Cause for Concern
6 Nov 2009
Respond! News
Respond! is concerned at the level of unreported voluntary surrenders for those in mortgage arrears
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Housing Charity proposes support scheme for those facing repossession
7 Oct 2009
Respond! News
Respond! proposes new Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme to help those in danger of losing their home through repossession.
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Keep Developers and the CIF Well Away from NAMA
16 Sep 2009
Respond! News
Respond! is dismissing calls from the CIF to be given a consultative role in NAMA
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Banks seeking to artificially inflate house prices
19 Aug 2009
Respond! News
Respond! fears that banks may be distorting the property market by not lending below certain levels.
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New Life for the Old Mercy Convent
18 Aug 2009
Respond! News
Ireland’s largest provider of social housing is delighted to announce that work has recently been completed on their newest development at Convent Court, New Ross, Co Wexford.
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Launch of affordable homes warmly welcomed by the people of Kildare
29 Jun 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association launches affordable homes previously seen on RTÉ's interior design programme "Showhouse"
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Most Vulnerable at Risk
7 May 2009
Respond! News
Eddie Hobbs addresses anti-poverty conference and claims more hardship is in store for the less well off
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Social Housing Need as Bad as 1964
6 May 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association claims those in poverty are being forgotten at National Conference
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Family Homes Need Legal Protection
27 Apr 2009
Respond! News
Respond! calls on the Government to protect Irish families by introducing new Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme
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Fairness Not Delivered - Minister’s attack on young families is the cornerstone of the Supplementary Budget 2009
7 Apr 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association claim this budget is an attack on young families and the most vulnerable in our society.
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Banks should write off arrears for families in difficulty
1 Apr 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association is calling on banks to write off arrears and renegotiate mortgage repayments in line with an individual or family’s ability to repay.
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Not all Management Executives Motivated by Money
25 Mar 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association contends that not all Management Executives are motivated by money as leading Consultant embarks on career break to work in the poorest regions of South Africa.
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A Moratorium on mortgage payments is only the first step for home owners in difficulty
13 Feb 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association asserts that a moratorium on mortgage payments is only the first step for home owners in difficuty. The housing charity claims that a re-evaluation of their mortgage is also necessary.
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Pass the benefit of recapitalisation onto the people
9 Feb 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association welcomes announcement by the Minister for Finance but insists proper structures need to be put in place to help those most in need.
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Stop the Repossessions - Banks should write off excessive residential mortgage debt
15 Jan 2009
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association are calling on Irish Banks to write off excessive mortgage debt. The housing charity maintain that many people are facing repossession due to reckless lending on the part of Banks.
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Social Housing Need as Bad Now as it was in 1964
10 Dec 2008
Respond! News
Housing waiting lists are as high now as they were in 1964.
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Seanad Urged to Amend Charities Bill; Charity Trustees Require Protection too
24 Nov 2008
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association are calling on the Seanad to amend the Charities Bill that comes before them this week in order to protect Trustees.
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Budget Forces Lower Income Families into Poverty
16 Oct 2008
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association contends that Budget 2009 does little to help the working poor and will result in more people living in poverty in Ireland.
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New I.T. Initiative Launched by Housing Charity
16 Oct 2008
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association launch a new I.T. in the Community initiative aimed at providing communtiies with computer and Internet access.
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Not Enough Done, A Lot More To Do
15 Oct 2008
Respond! News
Housing Charity claims the Government and the Minister for Finanec did not go far enough with Budget 2009
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Don't Punish the Vulnerable
14 Oct 2008
Respond! News
Respond! Housing Association calls on the Government not to forget those most in need in the upcoming Budget.
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Our most vulnerable Citizens deserve more than what this Government is proposing
6 Oct 2008
Respond! News
Respond!, along with a number of other leading charities, are calling on the Government to protect Ireland's poorest citizens by not abolishing the Combat Poverty Agency.
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Social Housing is key to saving the Irish Construction Industry
29 Sep 2008
Respond! News
Respond! is contending that the only responsible way to stimulate the Irish housing market is through increased production of social housing.
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Students Come Together for Housing Alumni Group
17 Sep 2008
Respond! News
Minister for Housing Michael Finneran joined with Ireland's only Housing Degree Graduates as they formed Ireland's first Housing Alumni Association.
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The Combat Poverty Agency must stay
3 Sep 2008
Respond! News
Respond! has expressed serious concern at recent speculation about the uncertain future of the Combat Poverty Agency.
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Day Care Centre to close due to lack of HSE Funding
19 Aug 2008
Respond! News
Due to the withdrawal of contracted funding from the Health Service Executive as a result of financial issues within the HSE, Nethercross Daycare Centre for older persons in Finglas, Dublin may be forced to close.
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Respond! increase housing supply in North Cork
12 Aug 2008
Respond! News
Respond!, Ireland’s largest housing association is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the new development in St. Joseph’s Gardens, Coomlogane, Milstreet, Co Cork.
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Bringing the Family Together for a day of fun
27 Jun 2008
Respond! News
Residents of Respond! Housing Association enjoyed a day of fun and activities on June 27th 2008 in Árd na Ghleanna, Tramore. The day was held to celebrate the Árd na Ghleanna Community Building which offers a range of services and facilities to the local community.
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Social Housing Residents living below the poverty line
5 Jun 2008
Respond! News
This is one of the startling figures that emerged in a recent report by Respond! Housing Association. The research report that was commissioned by Ireland’s largest housing association is being launched today, June 5th 2008, at the Respond! National Conference in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise.
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Mammy am I poor because I live here?
2 Jun 2008
Respond! News
The “here” being referred to is social housing and this is one of the key topics being discussed at the Respond! National Conference 2008. The question emanates from the fact that Local Authority tenants are five times more likely to be living in consistent poverty than people living in other types of accommodation.
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Lack of Proper Resources causes Criminality and Violence
28 May 2008
Respond! News
Ireland’s largest housing association is contending that the increase in community breakdown is caused by a lack of proper resources and segregation of lower income families in one area.
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