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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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