Results 641-660 of 2,240 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing Provision for Older People: Discussion (10 May 2022)

John Cummins: We need to have that mix. It has to be that.

Seanad: Regulation of Display of Electoral and Polling Posters and Other Advertisements Bill 2022: Second Stage (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I support amendment No. 1 tabled by Senator Fitzpatrick. I have also been the victim of those mysterious reappearing posters that manifest throughout the country. It is certainly not confined to Dublin. I am sure it is reflected in practice throughout the entire country. I do not have a strong view on this one way or the other. I see the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 May 2022)

John Cummins: One of the best value-for-money examples the State has is the roll-out of the disabled person's grant and housing adaptation grants, which are administered through local authorities. There are mobility aid grants of up to €6,000, housing aid for the elderly grants of up to €8,000 and housing adaptation grants of up to €30,000. There are discrepancies, however, between...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: That is the first time that has happened.

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome this amendment from the Government. It is an important change. The previous iteration would have excluded anything in the past, whereas we are now capturing that in the previous ten years. People may have been convicted under the Building Control Act in the previous ten years and it is right and proper for the public to know that. That is why we are introducing this in the first...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome these proposed changes to the fair deal scheme. I understand and appreciate the concerns in some quarters that these provisions encourage the movement of people into nursing homes. We need to look at them in the reverse and see the benefit of these homes, which are vacant in the case where a family member is already in a nursing home, being brought back into productive use for...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome these amendments being brought forward to strengthen the legislation that has already been passed by this House to place the affordable purchase scheme and the shared equity scheme on a statutory footing. Will the Minister comment on the date for the commencement of the shared equity scheme? We are hoping that it will be in place for July. Will he confirm that is the case? In my...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

John Cummins: I genuinely think the Senator has made serious allegations in suggesting An Bord Pleanála would, in some way, not do its duty to adjudicate on planning applications on their merits. We either have faith in our planning system and the independence of An Bord Pleanála to do its job or we do not. I have faith. I am not happy with the delays in An Bord Pleanála and think one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the witnesses and I compliment them on the work they do, which is exceptionally valuable. As a former local authority member for 11 or 12 years, the introduction of NOAC reports have been invaluable in being able to pitch the performance of a local authority against others across various headings. There are legitimate questions for management and the executive as to how a certain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: To follow on, for a council to be debating a NOAC report in September for the previous year is a good barometer. It follows the break in August. Obviously, for that to happen, information would have to be published in August in order for it to get onto the agenda in September. In terms of feedback, if the witnesses could get to that point it would be of benefit. I apologise for being...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: I am referring to the opening statement to the committee from the audit service.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: Apologies. That is my fault. Do the witnesses have a comment on that in general? Do they see procurement as a challenge for local authorities in terms of the indicators they examined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: I am conscious of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: It is a split session and I want to be fair to all members. Perhaps Mr. McCarthy would comment on the point in replying to the next speaker, if that is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: I would like to think that it was good scrutiny by the councillors in Waterford that had resulted in changes in practice. As there are no Fianna Fáil or Green members present the next slot is for the Independent members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Oversight Audit Commission’s 2021 Annual Report: Discussion (17 May 2022)

John Cummins: The next slot is Fianna Fáil. I am not sure if Deputy Flaherty is present.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House for what I feel is a very important Commencement matter, which is the eligibility of students for the SUSI grant if they take on additional work during the summer period. As he will be aware, many students rely heavily on the SUSI grant to assist them in getting through college. I commend him on the changes that he has brought forward, which mean...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Student Universal Support Ireland Grant (1 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and for taking this proposal, seeing the benefits of it and, as he stated at the outset, seeing it for what it is - a common-sense proposal that will benefit students and employers and help to assist in addressing the staff shortages we have in the economy at present. I welcome that the Minister stated he will make this change but I stress...

Seanad: Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jun 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Fine Gael supports the Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2022. As has been outlined already, the main proposal is to introduce an interest cap on moneylending loans which will protect low-income households who avail of moneylender loans. I too represent many working class communities and have done so since 2009 when I became a councillor in...

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

John Cummins: I thank the witnesses for attending. I acknowledge the work that everyone in the construction sector is doing to ramp up the supply of homes, be they social, affordable, cost rental or private, for families. All stakeholders are committed to meeting the targets contained in Housing For All, as we saw in how quickly the sector was able to rebound after Covid, notwithstanding the challenge of...