Results 4,601-4,620 of 5,964 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: That is a very important point. Two weeks ago, I talked to a social worker who mentioned the trauma children are experiencing through becoming homeless. While it is great there is emergency accommodation where families can be put, he said the trauma affecting children going into it, including anxiety and depression, is just shocking. Cork Simon does great work. I commend all the groups on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I have a few questions for the representatives of Cork Simon Community. Its opening statement referred to the fact that, tragically, 17 people died in emergency accommodation last year in Cork.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I thank Dr. Kavanagh for that response. Representatives of Cork City Council earlier gave a figure of eight people who tragically died in emergency accommodation. Are these eight people represented in the 17 people referred to by Cork Simon or are these an additional eight deaths?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: That is what I was leading into. On the figures, do we know how many people died last year in Cork city either in emergency accommodation or in accommodation that Cork Simon was providing? Cork Simon Community said the figure was 17 people, while Cork City Council said it was eight. I know there is probably a crossover in the figures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: There is a stark figure of 15 people now sleeping rough every night in Cork city. This increased from six the previous year. What has happened? What has gone wrong that there has been such a dramatic increase in rough sleepers in Cork city?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Cork City has an outreach worker going out at night. Cork Simon Community probably also has outreach workers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I know people will not use Cork Simon Community's night light service, even though it is a brilliant one, because women and people in recovery feel vulnerable. They feel they are going into situations that might trigger them and lead them back into addiction. There is a huge need for more accommodation for women and families but also for people in recovery. People are telling me that it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Homelessness: Discussion (5 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Regarding Alone, the lone parent families and the supply of social housing, the figures that were given showed Ireland was at 9% while the EU average is 18%. What I find now is that when both older people and lone parent families who are at risk of homelessness get homes, they get some of the worst housing that is available when they should probably be getting some of the best. These are...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Can the Minister of State see the water in the bottle I am holding? It came out of the taps in Cork. People across Cork city have had brown, dirty, black and discoloured water for over a year. Would anyone let members of their family or their kids drink this water? The worst thing about it is that because it is not so black or brown, older people, children and vulnerable people drink it...

General Practice and Local Health Services: Motion (20 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I commend my party colleague, Deputy Cullinane, on bringing forward this motion. Unlike this Government, he has his finger on the pulse. If the Minister of State were to ask him about out-of-hours services in Cork city, he could tell him they are not functioning as they should. The Minister for Health told me on 29 February that he was not aware of any reduction of out-of-hours GP services...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: 13. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of sailings the Naval Service cancelled in the past 12 months due to staffing shortages. [13241/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Will the Tánaiste update the House on the number of sailings the Naval Service had to cancel the last 12 months due to staffing shortages?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Last month, the Irish Examiner reported that only one ship is currently available to patrol our 1 million sq. km exclusive economic zone. The newspaper also stated that a lack of expertise delayed the use of two smaller vessels, which arrived from New Zealand last May. These are unlikely to become operational until the winter, at the earliest. These two vessels cost €26 million. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: We have seen the Naval Service do some excellent work, considering the resources available to it. The service needs to be commended on the work it does. I was told recently by a person on the ground that a ship left port without the required manning levels and health and safety measures in place. I do not want to say who told me this but they firmly believed the ship should not have left...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: 14. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence whether he has engaged on the reported €10 million payouts on Defence Forces claims in the past three years. [13242/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Will the Tánaiste update the House on whether he has engaged on the report and the reported €10 million payout on Defence Forces claims in the past three years?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: I stand corrected on the figure, which was just €7.5 million over the last three years. However, this is concrete proof that there are serious issues in the Defence Forces. It vindicates the Women of Honour in many ways and proves there is a need for an inquiry to deal with significant issues that cause serious harm to those in the Defence Forces. According to the Irish Examiner...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: Has the Tánaiste met the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces to discuss the current issues? What interim measures will be put in place pending the inquiry to improve existing complaints procedures? It was really disappointing, and that is probably not a strong enough word, that the Women of Honour did not see the terms of reference before they were published. The Tánaiste met...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: There are huge issues with all of the bus services in Cork. Last week, Sinn Féin in Cork brought out a policy outlining that a minimum of 30 extra drivers need to be hired by Bus Éireann to fill the gaps that are now showing. Due to traffic congestion, we are seeing more people using the buses, which is what we all want, but the problem is that buses are being delayed and are not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Active Travel (21 Mar 2024)

Thomas Gould: 70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether he is aware of an uneven allocation in funding for active travel in 2024 in Cork city. [13240/24]