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Gerben Uunk

Gerben Uunk

Party for Animal Welfare

Party for Animal Welfare (PAW) is Ireland's only registered political party on behalf of the voiceless animals. I relate every animal welfare issue to the welfare of humans, we humans are animals after all too, but maybe not the best ones. As mayor, I want to build bridges with all kind people.

Priorities

  • Other

    End Animal Cruelty in Limerick. If elected mayor I want to prioritize actions to end the ever-increasing animal cruelty in City & County Limerick.

  • Other

    Call on Limerick City & County Council to adopt the so-called Plant-based Trearty. As ex Belfast & my former native Amsterdam did.

  • Housing

    Build 10,000 Student affordable housing units UL, TUS & MaryI. Shame, many students have to live in their cars. All landlords must accept pets!

These answers were provided by the candidate

Taxes and charges
1 of 21 questions
Local Property Tax rates in Limerick should be reduced, even if it means cutting spending on local services and amenities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "LPT rates form a valuable source to fund vital local services. In my view LPT should be means tested. "

- Gerben Uunk
Taxes and charges
2 of 21 questions
Commercial rates in Limerick should be reduced to help local businesses, even if it means cutting spending on local services and amenities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Yes, to help encourage new spin off, young entrepreneurs, especially those with a sustainability ethos. However, No to reduction of rates for large existing commercial businesses. With the exception the hospitality sector, who has suffered quite a bit off late. "

- Gerben Uunk
Taxes and charges
3 of 21 questions
On-street parking charges should be reduced, even if it means cutting spending on local services and amenities
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "On street parking charges should stay the same. However, for this to work we need Park and Ride (P&R) for visitors, all over Limerick. As well as free access to public transport for the duration of their stay in the P&R car parking. "

- Gerben Uunk
Housing
4 of 21 questions
The Council should increase the percentage of social and affordable housing in all new developments
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "It’s appalling that some other mayoral candidates call for more foreign investment to get a higher percentage of private sector housing. We don’t need vulture funds taking over more apartment blocks and sorts, resulting in even higher rents. The average rent in Limerick is in excess of €1,900."

- Gerben Uunk
Housing
5 of 21 questions
If someone refuses an offer of social housing, they should be put to the back of the waiting list
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Current legislation states that if you refuse two reasonable offers within 12 months, you be suspended from the waiting list for 12 months, and cannot claim rent supplement. People should get a third final chance. There could be valid reasons why someone refuses an offer for social housing. "

- Gerben Uunk
Housing
6 of 21 questions
More accommodation for Travellers should be built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Travellers are a distinct ethnic group. However, that does not mean that they are above the law. Certain individuals within the traveller’s community engage in anti-social behaviour. For example, in sulky racing, many horses are getting killed. We should not build housing for these individuals."

- Gerben Uunk
Housing
7 of 21 questions
Too many one-off rural houses are being built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Rural housing is vital for those who want to live in rural Limerick. However, careful planning is required, as some people live beyond their means in huge mansions. Post-Covid, many sought to live in a cottage in the country outside of urban areas, to work more from their home-offices. "

- Gerben Uunk
Housing
8 of 21 questions
To increase housing density in urban areas, new developments should be limited to one parking space per house
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Yes, but compact building is key, for more housing in urban areas. Each household could get one parking pass to use for visitors, one or two days per week, for a few hours. This also will free up space for bicycling parking. "

- Gerben Uunk
Transport
9 of 21 questions
The provision of public transport (rail and bus) should be prioritised over building roads
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I favour free public transport throughout both Limerick City and County. Especially for students and those on low wages. I would like to see a High-Speed Light Rail Link between Limerick city center and Shannon Airport. This would make it easier to mitigate for any flooding dangers. "

- Gerben Uunk
Transport
10 of 21 questions
Too many bike lanes are being built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Bike lanes are vital for safe cycling through city and county Limerick. This is also beneficial to a more carbon neutral Limerick. I would favour expansion of the Limerick Greenway to West and East Limerick. "

- Gerben Uunk
Transport
11 of 21 questions
Road projects such as the N/M20 and the Northern Distributor Road must be urgently progressed
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The Northern Distributor Road poses a serious threat to the wildlife (for example frogs) between counties Limerick and Clare. In my humble view it is a road to nowhere and a waste of money, which could be much wiser spent on housing. More motorways are the last thing we need. "

- Gerben Uunk
Transport
12 of 21 questions
More streets in Limerick city and town centres should be pedestrianised
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I would call to pedestrianise the whole of O’Connell Street, which should only be accessible for deliveries in early mornings or late evenings, or by emergency vehicles of course. This will bring a fresh breath of air into Limerick city center. "

- Gerben Uunk
Transport
13 of 21 questions
The new 30km/h speed limit in Limerick city centre should be extended to more urban areas
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Absolutely, safety for pedestrians and cyclists is key. Particularly, additional safety is needed for pedestrians with guide dogs, thus the disabled. We need much safer traffic throughout Limerick. "

- Gerben Uunk
Health
14 of 21 questions
To address the trolley crisis, it is better to expand capacity in the UHL emergency department than to re-open other emergency departments in the region
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The UHL crisis is getting worser by the day, for instance people are dying on trolleys. A quick fix is that government promises are kept to re-open 24/7 A&E in Ennis, Nenagh & St Joseph hospitals. "

- Gerben Uunk
Health
15 of 21 questions
The development of new private hospitals in Limerick will undermine the public health services and should be opposed
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "A second A&E department for Limerick as a new private hospital could be vital to help public patients, as well. If a second emergency department (ED) did open it would provide a service to thousands of people. "

- Gerben Uunk
Law & order
16 of 21 questions
The Council should be more willing to evict local authority tenants who engage in anti-social behaviour
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Local authorities can evict you for anti-social behaviour. However, careful consideration should be applied. The root causes for the anti-social behaviour must be researched and tackled as well. Prevention is better than cure! "

- Gerben Uunk
Law & order
17 of 21 questions
The Council should step up efforts to impound horses that are held without licence
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Absolutely, especially for horses of evil sulky racers, as so many horses are getting killed on the road by sulky racers, and horses of horse breeders. In this regard, its about time that promises are kept to hire a Limerick Animal Welfare Officer, with clear enforcement. "

- Gerben Uunk
Environment & energy
18 of 21 questions
More wind farms (including onshore) should be built in Limerick
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "I would propose only to build community-owned wind turbines as done in Denmark. Not huge turbines in excess of 100 meters, which might negatively impact the countryside. An offshore windpark in Shannon Estuary might impact migrating birds severely. Connection to the grid also poses issues. "

- Gerben Uunk
Environment & energy
19 of 21 questions
It would be good for the region if the Shannon liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal went ahead
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "The gas industry intentionally tries to confuse the public and greenwash gas as a ‘cleaner’ fuel. But nothing could be further from the truth. Fracked gas is bad for the environment. "

- Gerben Uunk
Immigration
20 of 21 questions
Some vacant buildings in Limerick should be used to alleviate the shortage of accommodation for asylum seekers
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "Empty buildings should be used where possible to house asylum seekers. Clear information and engagement with the local community will be essential to prevent hostility. This is something which is seldom done sadly. "

- Gerben Uunk
Immigration
21 of 21 questions
Limerick should accommodate a proportionate share of the asylum seekers who come to Ireland
  • Agree
  • Neither agree nor disagree
  • Disagree
  • No opinion
Comment: "For example, we must support Ukrainian asylum seekers include those coming here with their pets. Ukrainians have been building careers and businesses in Ireland since the war began two years ago, and contribute positively to our society. "

- Gerben Uunk