Results 421-440 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, to the House. Page 112 of the Housing For All document talks about extending planning exemptions to 2025 to complement Town Centre First objectives, "We will review and extend the regulations that exempt certain vacant commercial premises, such as 'over the shop' type spaces, from requiring planning permission for change of use". It puts the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State. We all know that this is about speed of delivery and removing roadblocks. In my experience of dealing with this scheme, particularly the repair and leasing scheme, this is one such roadblock. Former public houses in Waterford city have been transformed and they have people currently living in them. It is a great success so I ask the Minister of State when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure: Environmental Protection Agency (14 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: I thank our witnesses for coming before us. I am sure it was due to the time pressures Dr. Ryan faced in making his contribution but I note that much of what was in the opening statement provided to us between pages 2 and 6, which contains information on lots of positive progress in the water and wastewater areas, was not touched on. I am not for one second suggesting that everything is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure: Environmental Protection Agency (14 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: It requires a short answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure: Environmental Protection Agency (14 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: This is an important point. Is the EPA satisfied that it was adequately disinfected during that period?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (3 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: Yesterday marked a very significant milestone in a journey which has had more twists than a murder mystery novel. Thankfully, that chapter has come to a conclusion and a new chapter has begun with yesterday's announcement that a technical university for the south east will be established by 1 May and that all final year students currently attending Waterford Institute of Technology, WIT, and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Technological Universities (3 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. I would expect nothing less. He has been across this issue since his appointment. On borrowing, significant work has been done to enable technological universities to borrow to fund purpose-built student accommodation, of which there is a shortage in Waterford, as there is elsewhere.However, beyond that we need to get to the point where...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I wish to raise a couple of matters relating to An Bord Pleanála. On the one hand, I will compliment the board and, on the other, I will criticise it. To first deal with the criticism, while I acknowledge that significant resources have been applied to the strategic housing development, SHD, process and new legislation will come before the House tomorrow in that respect, it cannot be...

Seanad: Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People: Statements (9 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I wish to share time with Senator Carrigy.

Seanad: Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People: Statements (9 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank her for taking statements on this very important matter which affects so many families. I share her vision and desire, and the vision of Government and the HSE, that children's disability services be easily accessible, that they be fair, that the families and health services in schools would work together to support children, that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Second Stage (10 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister and thank him for commencing the Bill in the Seanad. I know it is something he committed to doing and he is to be commended on following through on his word in that regard. The primary purpose of the SHD arrangements, which this legislation will supersede, was to speed up the planning decision-making process for well-designed, large-scale housing developments on land...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Diseases (11 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for taking this important matter. I know he prioritised doing so and that he has a genuine interest in the issue to which it relates. His assistance with this serious matter is much appreciated, particularly as it is affecting farmers in County Waterford and further afield. This Commencement matter, a number of parliamentary questions that were submitted in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Diseases (11 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the commitment of the Minister of State. I will take up a couple of points. In a reply to a parliamentary question issued on 3 November the Department stated the 16 regional veterinary offices currently had a complement of 738 staff working and 86 vacancies. Today the figure provided by the Minister of State for 7 November indicates only 34 vacancies. Either there was a massive...

Seanad: Forestry Licensing: Statements (11 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State. I thank her for her proactive engagement on this very serious matter for many in the sector and right across the country. In preparation for today I spoke to representatives of Smartply Europe Limited at Waterford Port. The company has a positive story to paint because it no longer imports timber. It was doing so last year and into the first quarter of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: The Minister has rightfully pointed out that we have to allow flexibility in the process to local authorities if they feel there is a need for commercial activity in an area. We may have areas of the country where large numbers of housing developments have gone in in the past without the commercial side. They may need a supermarket or GP surgery that is not in those areas. If we do not...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: May I comment on that briefly? I do not want to prolong the debate. Having dealt with many files, I believe the information is available. It is certainly available in my local authority area in Waterford. I expect it is the exact same across the whole country. One can look at the information on the website. All the files are scanned and readily available to the public. Where there is...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: We always have to think of the unintended consequences of what is proposed. If I understand the Senator correctly, what she is actually suggesting is that if a person gets planning permission for a site he or she owns, the person will not be able to enter a partnership or sell the site on to another party. The Government is committed to introducing a tax on vacant sites. If one takes the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: It relates to developments of more than 100 units.