Candidate for Wicklow
Jennifer Whitmore is the SocDems’ Spokesperson for Children and a Councillor for the Greystones Municipal District on Wicklow County Council.
Jennifer spent 10 years in Australia, where she worked as a senior policy analyst alongside government Ministers developing environmental law, water management and energy policy. Prior to working in Australia, she worked extensively in fisheries and aquaculture in Ireland at both a national and European level.
Jennifer was elected as a Councillor for Wicklow in 2014. She sees her work as a Councillor primarily as a facilitator. Local communities have an enormous wealth of expertise and talent, and she enjoys seeing the amazing work that can be achieved by communities and local government coming together.
Jennifer is keen to use her experience in policy and legislation, combined with her community work, for the benefit of Wicklow and Ireland.
“Simply put, I became involved in politics to effect change. I believe that our governance systems have failed us – that we need to completely review how we engage with communities, how & where we direct our resources, how we govern. That is why I ran in the local elections, why I helped found the Social Democrats, and why I am now running for the Dáil. Ireland’s future is a bright one and our potential is great. The time to make that change is now.”
“Simply put, I became involved in politics to effect change. Ireland’s future is a bright one and our potential is great. The time to make that change is now.”
“Simply put, I became involved in politics to effect change. Ireland’s future is a bright one and our potential is great. The time to make that change is now.”
Help Jennifer’s Work
Volunteer with Jennifer
Get involved to help Jennifer’s work in Wicklow.
Donate to Jennifer
Help Jennifer’s campaign by making a contribution.
Keep in touch with Jennifer
Sign up for regular updates on Jennifer’s work.
Connect with Jennifer
NATIONAL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL: Just before Christmas, news broke that the new National Children's Hospital (which will also be Wicklow's new Children's A&E) has gone way over budget. Like crazy overbudget...from €400m in 2012 to €1.8bn. And this overrun will impact on the Govts ability to provide new primary care centres, homecare packages etc.
Building a hospital in the middle of our capital city was always going to cause problems...whether cost, access, or limitations due to site size.
I was a strong supporter of the Connolly for Kids Hospital and believe that St. James is the wrong site for this hospital. In 2016, I worked closely with them to lobby for the hospital to be built in Blanchardstown, on a greenfield site.
And despite my concerns regarding the site, I really wish I had been proven wrong. This is a mess-up that we really can't afford.
That’s what happens when you don’t cost things properly 🤯 its a shambles and it needs to be stopped and changed to the Connelly site before we end up paying well over 2 billion to just build it and then continue paying for this mistake for the next 100 years 😡
Jennifer who actually has the power to make a decision and stop this right now ? Could we make this into a clinical specialist unit instead and continue with James site . What is the life expectancy of children’s emergencies with an hours drive away from Wicklow go city center Ireland just seem to continue to make the same mistakes again and again
Unfortunately, I dont think there a snowballs chance of reversing the decision to locate it at James at this point tbh. These issues were raised again and again with the decision makers at the time, and it was known that costs would increase because of the difficult location of the site. Even at that, I couldn't get support at a Council meeting to write to Minister Harris to ask him to review it. In fact, I was the only politician that was actively pushing for a site change. The mad thing is that I dont believe that people are aware that this hospital will be Wicklows children's A&E...there will be no A&E provided at Tallaght. IMO Wicklow will be worse hit by the decision to locate the hospital at James 😟. I find the whole thing maddening tbh.
To be fair I think if the people got behind it and made it political then it could be reversed. I’d be on for knocking on doors to get signatures and get this back onto table for review.
There’s nearly more of a chance now of stopping it than before with spiraling costs..... people will be more likely to step up and say no more especially with homelessness etc needing funding
COMMUTER SURVEY - RESULTS: At today's Wicklow County Council meeting, we received a presentation from Gamma research detailing the results of the Council's commuter survey (thanks to the 6,000+ commuters that took part!).
What did you say?
1. 65k of you commute!;
2. 74% of you are unhappy with your commute.
3. 70% of you would take a similar job if it was available in Wicklow (33% would even take a pay cut to do so);
4. 49% of you would be open to using a co-working hub.
This is what I think should happen next:
- Co-working hubs (subsidised, high-tech facilities, high quality, centrally located, with drop-in creche facilities) need to be built in each main town in the county;
- Job creation, particularly in locations such as the IDA land in Greystones (I've been banging on about this for a loooong time);
- Park n' rides and carpooling areas developed;
- Better public transport.
If you would like to read more detail of the survey results, www.wicklow.ie/Business/Why-Wicklow/Wicklow-Facts-Figures/Commuter-Survey-Results
The results from this survey will inform funding and policy decisions - well done to the Council officials for commissioning this important study...
Hi Jennifer. 4. Should be the priority followed by 3. And then 2. Wicklow is a commuter county and with increased urbanisation the majority of jobs will always be in cities. We just need to be able to get in and out of Dublin faster. Shared offices are fine but realistically most people will either go into their own place of work or work from home.
Leanne Walker
PLEASE SIGN & SHARE: One of my Social Democrats colleagues Catherine Stocker created this petition calling on the Minister for Health to provide a catch-up MenB vaccine for all children.
Children born after Oct '16 get protection from Meningitis B through vaccines given as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme - those born before then did not receive the MenB vaccine. To get children vaccinated privately costs approx. €350 per child. This is an unfair barrier to parents being able to protect their children, Jennifer
#VaccinesWork #MenB #HealthForAll
Give the 'Catch Up' Meningitis B Vaccine to all Children
my.uplift.ie
In light of the recent meningitis outbreak we are calling on the Minister for Health Simon Harris to Implement a catch-up vaccination programme for the meningitis B programme for all children and teen...
please support this petition folks - government is recommending children to have this vaccine, but I was at the doctors today, and it will cost over 1,200 euro for my 4 kids to be vaccinated !!!
Done
Children that were born before Oct 16 won't have been vaccinated against Meningitis B (they should have received the MenC vaccine tho).
It is possible to get vaccinated for MenB but it cost a few hundred euro, which is out of the reach for many parents.
I believe that the HSE should ensure that all children and teens are vaccinated - not just those infants that were born after 2016. At risk groups include the under 1s, under 5s and teens; and its important that parents are aware of the symptoms.
If a parent is concerned about their children, they should talk to their GP.
MenB vaccine should be provided as catch-up programme - Social Democrats
socialdemocrats.ie
MenB vaccine should be provided as catch-up programmeJan 10, 201900 “The vaccine injections cost hundreds of euro, so it’s vital that people know they can ...
agree should be free
Janice, Jennifer
Yes Jennifer it’s needed
Aimee Weller
I campaigned for this Long and hard for kids who are in the at risk group. But the HSE, even though they recommend it for those at risk won’t give it freely?! Makes no sense!
If children beyond 2016 are receiving it surely thats discrimination to have to pay. Children up to 18 are vulnerable and should be protected by government???
Patricia Smith
What are the symptoms to look out for?
Here are the symptoms Justin. They may not all be present so its really important to get onto a Dr if youre at all worried. There's also an app on this website that might be useful. http://actformeningitis.ie/
Couldn't agree more, I paid 450euro for my youngest to be vaccinated as she was born 1 day before it would have been provided free as sort of routine vaccinations 😠
Can’t understand why Govt is blocking @SocDems bill on parental leave - it would make such a difference to so many people. @davidstantontd why is this bill not being let through?
#SocDems Bill to help working parents by extending unpaid leave could be passed within weeks if govt would allow us few hours in Seanad - parents are crying out for this & @RoisinShortall appeals to @jerrybuttimer to give us time in Seanad #SupportParents @TodaySOR
@WhitmoreJen @RoisinShortall @TodaySOR Here's details information on our proposals to help working parents https://t.co/ikI91E2B1P
If you are a working parent, you’ll know that knot in your stomach when you realise that your child is sick, & needs you at home with them, and you have to make that call to work and take yet another day off…