Results 2,201-2,220 of 5,659 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I have another question, if that is okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: Perfect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: To follow up on the point raised by Senator Boyhan, is the Department fully satisfied the draft Bill is in line with the Aarhus pillars?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: If people or organisations come forward to highlight concerns, the Department is open to taking those concerns on board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: The Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, and many others have spoken out against the imposition of fines on An Bord Pleanála for delays in decision-making. Will that imposition now be removed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: There were many concerns raised when it was mooted first that An Bord Pleanála would be paying fines to developers or applicants for delays. I will not go into why that provision was included in the first place. I understand the Department wants to keep An Bord Pleanála to timelines but the board having to pay fines to developers sends out the wrong message. Mr. Hogan referred...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: My apologies as I will have to leave the meeting to speak in the Dáil. There are tens of thousands of uncommenced planning permissions. These are sites that have received planning permission but are then just left idle. There are such sites in my constituency. We are in the middle of a housing crisis or emergency. This issue needs to be dealt with in planning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I hope to return before the end of the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: To follow up, I have a few further questions. The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland has found that more than half of Irish native plants are on the decline. How will this legislation work towards conservation? There has been criticism of previous planning Bills and the failure to define sustainable development and ingrain conservation in that. Will this Bill present a change in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: We have issues whereby the conditions on planning are not enforced and, in some cases, are actually unenforceable. Does the Department see the OPR as having a role in reviewing this situation? Recently, I put in a number of complaints to Cork City Council because electric car charging points were part of a planning process but were never delivered. I contacted the council recently and it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: Mr. Hogan just mentioned that conditions should be clear and enforceable. Last week, planning permission was received in Cork for the development of student accommodation. We have a huge shortage of student accommodation. It is important that we get accommodation for students. I put in a number of submissions because I had concerns about the density and height. One of the developments...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I get that but the residents have been onto me. People know it needs to be delivered but we need developments that are sustainable and include communities. There was another issue in regard to planning permissions. Is it right that developers can go for new planning permission applications when they already have planning permissions that they have not developed or they are sitting on...

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I wish my wife, my daughters, my sister and all my female family members the best today on International Women's Day. Unfortunately, my mother passed away 30 years ago last weekend, but she left a great legacy for my family and me. It shows what strong and great women can do. I send my support to the LGBTQI+ community, in particular trans women. Trans rights are human rights. There are no...

International Women's Day: Statements (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I am proud to be a member of a party and a movement that have been built on the shoulders of strong and committed women. Yesterday, we said our goodbyes to one of these women. Rita O'Hare personified what it was to be a republican. She was an inspirational leader, a driving force and a role model for our future generations. I am proud the republican movement has been built by, and been a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: Shame on you, Taoiseach.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: You have enough money for speculators.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: When?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: People are homeless and the Taoiseach is talking about the budget.

Protection of Cash as Legal Tender: Motion [Private Members] (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Rural Independent Group. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the motion it has brought forward. Most days here, we discuss real and profound issues such as the crisis in housing, the cost-of-living crisis and the crisis in health but, to many people, this motion is just as important because many vulnerable people have no other option but to make transactions and pay...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (8 Mar 2023)

Thomas Gould: 282. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development whether she is aware that an organisation (details supplied) in Cork has received no increase in funding for the past five years and has just been allocated funding for the next five years with only one staff member. [11681/23]