Results 2,421-2,440 of 5,904 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have no issue with the local authorities bringing in the private sector, but we should have both. We should have direct-build social, affordable and cost rental properties along with contractors. We are in the worst housing crisis in the history of the State and local authorities have a proven track record of delivering. During the financial crisis, many apprentices were partly through...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: My next question is for the SCSI and CIF. Until now, people building one-off housing may have wanted to build a carbon-neutral or zero-carbon home with inbuilt environmental aspects to make them as environmentally-friendly as possible. Given the increase in the cost of construction, have people changed the type of house they want to build? Have they stepped back and decided they cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: We need to provide the right type of housing - sustainable and carbon-neutral housing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: Will the current increases in construction costs have a detrimental effect on the delivery of such housing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: That means increased construction costs.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 25. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role that his Department is taking in leading and coordinating a whole of government approach to accessibility in the public realm given the cross-Departmental nature of this issue. [28411/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Rights of People with Disabilities (2 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 82. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that his Department has made on enabling rights, following Ireland’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (2 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 108. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the targets that his Department has for the retrofitting of local authority and privately-owned homes respectively, by year for the next five years. [28398/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (2 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the negotiations with An Post and an organisation (details supplied) to secure a public-service obligation for post offices. [28397/22]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Burial Grounds (2 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 153. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to claims of a mistake on the beneficiary ownership registration of the Bessboro site in Cork; if these mistakes would be a common issue; and if the Register of Beneficial Ownership have taken steps to address the matter. [28714/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 238. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 250 of 26 May 2022, if this passport has been issued. [28616/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Construction Costs in Housing: Discussion (24 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: My first point relates to apprenticeships. We need to reach our goals in increasing the number of apprentices in all trades but we also need to have better pay and conditions and better security. Apprenticeships in countries such as Germany are much more highly valued than they are here. College is seen as the number one goal when people are leaving school, with apprenticeships valued...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank our guests for attending and giving their presentation. My first point relates to the serious allegations regarding the planning process within An Bord Pleanála. As a result, a senior counsel has been appointed and 200 planning applications are being investigated. I am sure our guests can imagine the significant delays that some, if not all, of these applications face and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: I will try to discuss the future reforms without talking about anything that is not currently in the public domain. What I want to ensure, and I hope we can ensure it together, is that we can build back up confidence in the State planning process. At the moment, there is a lack of confidence and a perception it is not open, transparent or fit for purpose, for a number of reasons. Some of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review and Consolidation of Planning Legislation: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (26 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: My next question is one of a different type. I am sure the Department will be aware of the Bessborough site in Cork and the continual attempts to build housing on it. It is a very sensitive site. Last month, submissions were due and I was made aware of a very concerning incident that arose when a survivor bravely outlined her concerns about the plan. This was an emotional and difficult...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Thomas Gould: I support my colleagues. I was in Cork Penny Dinners, which is a charity in Cork that works with many homeless people and many people in poverty, and I remember engaging with Caitríona Twomey, one of the co-ordinators and volunteers there. I was talking to people who were homeless and who use that service. These are really intelligent people who have political minds of their own and...

Special Educational Needs School Places: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have just listened very closely to what the Minister has said and I have heard her outline investment and funding that is going in to special education. If one was to listen to her describe the investment, one would say we were in a much better place. Last Saturday, I went to Grand Parade in Cork city for the second protest vigil organised by Families Unite for Services and Support, FUSS,...

Special Educational Needs: Statements (16 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: This week saw the Government vote against a Sinn Féin motion on special education. Instead of engaging and working with Sinn Féin and working together to come up with solutions for the most vulnerable children in the State, the Government again refused to work with us and to listen to those children and their families. There were 296 primary school special classes in Cork city...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (14 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the BusConnects plan for Cork. [29647/22]