Results 1,821-1,840 of 5,904 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Cost of Living: Motion [Private Members] (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: This year, the cost of food is expected to rise by almost €800 with the running cost of the average car to increase by €500. Rents and heat costs are skyrocketing. They are completely out of control. We are ordinary people. The increase in cost inflation is not just affecting the poorest; it is affecting everyone. I refer, for example, to people's ability to pay for...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I wish to raise concerns around Russia and the planned military exercises off the coast of County Cork in the coming weeks. I know that for some of my constituents, and in particular fishermen in Cork, there are a lot of concerns about these exercises. While there are no rules to stop the Russians from doing them, it is deeply concerning that they are choosing to do them off the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the average local authority will pay over €300,000 to an organisation (details supplied) for mortgage-to-rent schemes over the next 25 years for properties the local authority will not own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62338/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason that a local authority can grant a transfer from social housing. [2912/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 706. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new ferry, which will service Tory Island, will be put into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2913/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Language (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 40. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a person is entitled to use the Irish language version of their name on their driver licence in cases in which they do not use it on other official documentation. [3799/22]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 64. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the Minister has a view on whether a person should be entitled to the use of their name as Gaeilge on official documentation without a change by deed poll. [3800/22]

Youth Mental Health: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I welcome the opportunity to speak on youth mental health. It is an issue we need to focus on because I believe we are at a turning point. With the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, young people will finally be able to socialise and experience their teenage years after a long and tough two years. We must bear in mind the many young people on whom Covid has had a very negative effect. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 146. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the date of his last meeting with a group (details supplied). [3963/22]

National Broadband Plan: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: There are large parts of Cork North-Central, my own constituency, that are without high-speed broadband and there is no timeline for delivery. I recently contacted Eir about River Towers, an apartment block on Lee Road in Cork city that is waiting for a fibre to the home connection. Eir informed me it could not give me a date for delivery but that it will be done by 2026, which is four...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: My first question is to Mr. O'Sullivan. How many full-time dedicated staff in the Department are working on addressing vacancy only?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: My question was how many people in Mr. O'Sullivan's Department are working solely on vacancy and dereliction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate that, and I mean no disrespect to the staff who are doing multiple jobs, but this goes to the crux of the problem. There is no one in the Department working on an estimated 92,000 or 90,000 vacant properties. We do not have a team. We should have a team in the Department driving this. Mr. O'Sullivan made a point about having only three full-time vacant home officers in all 31...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Sorry, I do not mean to interrupt Ms Graham, I am just managing my time. This legislation came in in 1990. That is 32 years ago. Was there no one in the Department looking at this in 32 years? I have raised this for 12 years in Cork City Council where I was stonewalled. Different Sinn Féin representatives have raised the issue of vacancy and dereliction. An official told me once...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I want to stop Ms Graham on that because my time is nearly up. Before Housing for All, was no policy being implemented to tackle dereliction and vacant property for the past 32 years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate Ms Graham's answers. My points were not a criticism of her Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Going back to the Department officials, there is a €50,000 grant given to each local authority to employ a vacant homes officer. There are only three full-time vacant homes officers in the 31 local authorities. Another Department has sent out a circular that every local authority should have a full-time vacant homes officer but I do not believe one person can do that job. In Cork...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: In 2019, 12 local authorities did not collect any derelict sites levies. In 2020, 13 local authorities did not collect such levies. What is being done to rectify that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate that but let us clarify this. A total of 18 local authorities have been collecting it and 13 have not. Thirteen are completely disregarding the legislation. Is there not an onus on the Department to ensure local authorities do their job? There is €12.5 million in derelict site levies outstanding. Last year, only 6.9% of derelict site levies that were imposed were...