Results 2,201-2,220 of 2,240 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I have a further question relating to the 6% that Deputy Ó Broin mentioned. Do we have any information on the volumes involved in that 6% that are at risk of abstraction pressure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: It would be helpful to have an idea of where that 6% is identified in the country and the volumes we are discussing. Are they far in excess of the thresholds we are talking about here in terms of licensing? Are they fitting in the gap between the 250 cu. m to 199 cu. m, and exactly where? I would appreciate if Mr. Ó Coigligh could get that information and furnish it to the committee.

Seanad: Budget 2021: Statements (14 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: In the brief time I have I wish to focus on the capital investment programme that the Minister rightly pointed out as being the largest in the history of the State at €10.1 billion. It is right and proper that we are investing in capital infrastructure now. It would be remiss of me not to mention a significant capital project in my county of Waterford - I know the Minister has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: That would be advisable. I believe Deputy Ó Broin mentioned last week a report that is being produced by the Department. It was said that the Department was doing a cost-benefit analysis of the various models. Could that be fed into the specific piece? I had mentioned all the schemes in question in my submission in terms of repair and lease. There is a host of them. Could we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: Before you move on, Chairman, the nursing home support scheme was mentioned. Is there merit to having a specific section on housing options for older people and that the topic would be broadened out? A very good report was brought out by the then Minister of State at the Department of Health, former Deputy Jim Daly, about housing options for older people. It is a big area. It would not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: Could we then broaden No. 19 to include Deputy Higgins's matter, the nursing home support scheme and the former Minister of State's report?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I would suggest a title like "social housing build and regeneration".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: Or No. 9.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: One of the topics I submitted was not discussed last week. It is probably a controversial issue to raise, and I am not sure exactly where-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I am not sure either. Perhaps the Chairman could have a discussion with the Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts. I would be led by the outcome of that discussion. While the media rightly scrutinise spending on travel and subsistence by local representatives, it is my understanding that the Committee of Public Accounts cannot question the spending of local government executives in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: The issue of financial accountability across local government covers all areas in that case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I was going to suggest written submissions. I do not think we can afford to take it into the following week because of our time schedule. Is there agreement in principle among members that if we can facilitate a second public session, we will go ahead and do so but that we will agree to take written submissions if the latter is not possible? We have all proposed many topics for discussion....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: We are living in different times. We have to appreciate that it will not be possible to do everything we want to do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I do not think that was my issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: The affordability schemes warrant a discussion separate from the legislative proposals that may come in because committee members will have ideas and suggestions to make. There are many ideas and suggestions as to how best to provide affordable housing solutions throughout the State. It would be helpful if members could feed into that process and perhaps with officials from the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: We should include all of them because, as Senator Fitzpatrick has just said, there are a vast array of schemes on offer, some of which are not being utilised anywhere and some of which are being utilised effectively in other parts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: Are we tied to that time, given that we were not in the room?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I will continue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: The rest of the issues have not been covered. The national differential rent scheme is something that was proposed or promised four or five years ago when we amalgamated our councils to make Waterford City and County Council. There were three different rent schemes and we did not amalgamate them because we were told there was one coming. It did not come so I want to know where that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (6 Oct 2020)

John Cummins: I agree. This issue is a bugbear of mine with the local authorities. The legislation that is currently in place for dealing with derelict sites and dangerous structures is not effective and is not working. What legislative changes do we need to make to make that CPO process more effective, in order that local authorities can step in where necessary in towns, villages and cities right across...