23rd January 2022 - Emer Higgins, TD Extending first-time buyer initiatives to vacant and derelict homes will be a significant help to young people looking to buy and renovate their own home, a Fine Gael TD has said. Fine Gael TD and Member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Emer Higgins has welcomed the government’s announcement to allow vacant and derelict properties to be turned into homes without the requirement for plann

12th January 2022 - Emer Higgins, TD The new Online Safety Commissioner will further strengthen our efforts to keep people safe as they work and communicate online, according to Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins. Deputy Higgins was speaking as the new Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill was approved by Government today, which will ensure the development of online safety codes and the regulation of harmful online content, and make provisions for the levying of administrative finan

11th January 2022 - Emer Higgins, TD Property owners with spare rooms should consider taking advantage of the rent-a-room relief which allows those who rent out a room to earn up to €14,000 tax free, a Fine Gael TD has said. Deputy Emer Higgins, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Housing, said, “The rent-a-room relief has two main benefits; it helps homeowners make ends meet and it also increases the availability of rooms and the supply of accommodation. “People whose children have le

30th December 2021 - Emer Higgins, TD Financial support for people affected by hair loss should be extended to those who lose hair through eating disorders, a Fine Gael TD has said. A grant of up to €500 towards the cost of a wig or a hairpiece is available to people suffering from hair loss as a direct result of illness such as alopecia or treatment for an illness such as chemotherapy. Deputy Emer Higgins said, “Hair is so important to many people in terms of their identity

28th December 2021 - Emer Higgins, TD All State and semi-State organisations should record and publish gender pay data as a matter of urgency, as part of a collective effort to tackle gender pay disparity, a Fine Gael TD has said. Deputy Emer Higgins said, “If we are serious about eliminating the gender pay gap, all organisations owned by the State must publish a gender breakdown of their salaries. They should not be waiting until they are compelled by law to do so. “Lip serv