Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: On the serviced site piece and in terms of the envelope of funding available, I am conscious that the further into the year we go, the more difficult it will be to spend the envelope. Many counties, including Waterford, have a desire to have serviced sites on the edges of rural towns and villages. One would be inundated if such a scheme were opened in the morning. The cities, about which I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: I am sure his colleague, Deputy Cullinane, would be disappointed to hear him refer to Waterford as a town when, in fact, it is a city. It was voted the best city in Ireland to live in. I should know this. It is welcome that the cities fund is open. We have the best of both worlds. We can benefit from the rural and urban parts. On the home loan piece, not to reopen the subject I asked...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: On the shared equity scheme, we said 1 July was an accurate timescale to work towards. When the scheme was first announced, the maximum purchase prices were at a certain level. Obviously, some of them have increased, particularly, as Mr. Baneham said, outside Dublin. There was a cap of €250,000 placed on Waterford. When one looks at the median house price data from the Central...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: For instance, the price range for a three-bedroom semi-detached house, which is what we are talking about, a starter home for families, in Waterford is €275,000 to €300,000. It would not make sense to launch a scheme on 1 July to allow someone to purchase and have an equity share in a property when there is no property available at that purchase price. I have two final...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: I will hand back to Deputy Ó Broin but I have one further question. Will I ask it now and he can finish afterwards?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: In my first round, I asked about the mismatch in respect of the €850 million envelope that extends to 2026 in terms of the cost rental. The HFA has an appetite for providing more finance for CREL schemes, and it has estimated for a further €850 million in cost rental finance. As I said, based on the €93 million that is being provided for the 390 cost rental homes and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: Mr. O'Leary is far better at maths than I am, so I will bear with his expertise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: Yes, of course. We will finish with Deputy Ó Broin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: If there are no further questions, do the witnesses have concluding remarks they would like to make?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

John Cummins: On behalf of the committee I thank the representatives of the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency for their time this evening. It is much appreciated by all the members. We wish the witnesses well in their endeavours in the coming 12 to 24 months in particular, as we ramp up the delivery of social and affordable homes. Were the witnesses to extend the good wishes of the committee...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I want to put on record my thanks to the Minister for Transport for the funding of €17.6 million for Waterford's local and regional roads programme announced earlier this week. This is my first opportunity to address the issue. This funding will make a significant difference within my county. The main topic I would like to discuss is the welcome decision of the Supreme Court...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Solar Panels for Public Buildings, Schools, Homes and Other Premises) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: These are very important changes that we are seeking to introduce. This will play a critical role in us being able to achieve our climate targets. I share the frustration the Minister of State clearly has in terms of the time it takes to get things done.In fairness, we probably are moving at the pace allowable under the process. For other projects - I do not want to mention roads - such as...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the regulations before us on the exemption of commercial properties from the requirement to go through an often lengthy planning process to be converted into productive residential units for individuals and families. I assure Senator Higgins that this got ample discussion at last Thursday's meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, where the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: They do not drink in Finglas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Act (Exempted Development) Regulations 2022: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (10 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and the officials for taking on board the suggestions on the class 12 and the pubs. It shows what happens when something is identified on the ground, as was the case here. A vacant, derelict pub in Waterford city was being converted into eight residential units under the repair and lease scheme for housing purposes and they...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for taking this Commencement matter. I am disappointed the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is not here to take this Commencement matter but, that being said, I am sure the Minister of State has a response from the Department. If I require further information, I hope it will be forthcoming. St. Paul's Community College is the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for the reply, which references the permanent accommodation and outlines what is required going forward to facilitate the 1,000 enrolments projected. However, there is also an immediate need and so both needs require to be met in knowledge of the other. Putting in place the interim accommodation I outlined in my initial contribution may have an impact on the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I would like to raise the issue of sports capital funding. There is much speculation as to when an announcement will ultimately be made on it. The announcement of it was moved to the new year. We have been able to maximise the level of funding available to sports clubs as a result of that. Therefore, it was a welcome move. Clubs are contacting me, as I am sure they are contracting every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I will jump straight in and follow on from where Deputy Andrews left off. Has leasing played an important role in reducing reliance on emergency accommodation? Is it not better to have someone in accommodation under a secure 15 or 20 year lease rather than in HAP or emergency accommodation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: Absolutely, I could not agree more with Ms Hayes. That is an important message. It is often lost in the arguments that are made in here at committee and also in the Dáil and Seanad Chambers, and in the media ultimately. It is about people and finding them solutions so that they can improve and better their lives. I thank Ms Hayes and Ms Timmons, and Ms Breathnach, in particular,...