House secured for 88 year old Bantry woman after rental home put on the market 

A Cork TD has confirmed that a house has been found for an 88-year-old Cork woman who was facing homelessness.

Bantry woman Jennifer Marley was facing the threat of being made homeless after her current rental accommodation was put on the market.

Independent Ireland leader and Cork South West TD Michael Collins recently raised Ms Marley’s case in the Dáil.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Collins confirmed that a suitable home had been secured for Ms Marley, after weeks of work by his constituency team and the support of a local approved housing body in Bantry.

“We succeeded in getting her an interview and she succeeded in getting the house from that interview on Wednesday in Bantry.”

Mr Collins said that there are lots of others in her situation: “She is one of many. Unfortunately, there are lots of others who won’t get that opportunity. But it is a good news story and I would like to thank everybody involved.”

Mr Collins added: “Jennifer’s story touched hearts across the country and rightly so. No woman of 88 years should be left in such uncertainty. It should never have taken a public outcry or a speech in the Dáil to get action.

“But I’m proud of the work my team has done and deeply grateful to the approved housing body in Bantry whose commitment and care made this possible.”

Although welcoming the outcome for Ms Marley and her family, Mr Collins said her experience reflected a broader issue regarding the Government housing policy.

“Jennifer Marley is not alone. There are many like her, quietly enduring, hoping for a break that too often never comes. This is not a one-off hardship. It is a symptom of a housing system that is simply not working, especially for our most vulnerable.

“From the youngest to the oldest, people in Ireland are being failed. This Government is out of ideas, out of touch and seemingly out of interest when it comes to the real lives behind the statistics.”