Results 2,261-2,280 of 5,626 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: CIF outlined the 13% reduction at the end of last year and that it expected a dramatic decline in planning permissions. Is it referring to the backlog of 70,000? Many people have talked about the resources of An Bord Pleanála in regard to staffing, members of the board and skills. Representatives from An Bord Pleanála were here last week. From the information the provided, it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: The next question is one I raise at every meeting. It relates to derelict or vacant properties. There are between 98,000 to 166,000 of such properties depending on where you get your figures from. This is a consequence of some construction. If you want to develop a site, but right next to it is a derelict property that has been there for years, to develop properties you want to develop...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: Will people comment on Deputy Ó Broin's points and the questions he asked about this Bill? If there are two or three changes or points or something they want to have included, this is an opportunity for them to state them.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (9 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 132. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a rule preventing house swaps amongst social housing tenants where one tenant is a resident of a local authority and another a resident of an AHB; and the rationale behind same. [6235/23]

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

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses. I have been watching online. It is great to have the witnesses here to pick their brains and get their thoughts. I will first ask the OPR about a comment in its submission that it strongly welcomes the increased capacity of local authorities to utilise compulsory purchase orders, CPOs, to acquire derelict or vacant properties for onward sale and to play a stronger...

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

Thomas Gould: What positives are in this Bill that will help local authorities deliver these vacant properties and make CPOs easier? Mr. Cussen called it an epidemic. We know that the derelict sites and vacant sites registers only reflect a fraction of the number of properties that are actually derelict and vacant. Everyone understands that. Housing is the number one issue for me. It is absolutely...

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

Thomas Gould: I am conscious of my time. I thank Mr. Cussen for that. Listening to the comments of the representatives of An Bord Pleanála, you would feel like going home. Let us be honest. It has 700 or 800 decisions pending and eight members.

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

Thomas Gould: Like myself. The number of members is going from eight to six, whereas it should be 15. There is a year-long backlog. This just seems catastrophic. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and An Bord Pleanála does not have the tools it needs to do the work it has to do. How frustrating and demoralising it must be for the staff. If something is not done through this Bill, what can...

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

Thomas Gould: I suppose Ms Buckley has had nothing to do all along, so she has loads of spare time.

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

Thomas Gould: Ms Buckley stated a process is ongoing to appoint a permanent chairperson and permanent members and that this could take up to a year. She mentioned she is bringing in new members to fill the gap. My worry is the time it takes. I realise Ms Buckley has asked people to be understanding but there are those who have now been waiting for a substantial amount of time and who say they are losing...

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

Thomas Gould: I will ask my questions and the witnesses can get back to me afterwards. I support the work both organisations are doing in encouraging the public to get involved in the planning process. When I was a councillor, there were times when there were no submissions on very important planning projects. That is a job of work that needs to be done. I have been asked to raise the issue of...

Mortgage Interest Relief Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: I support Deputies Doherty and Farrell's motion. This is a targeted motion to help people at a time when the cost-of-living crisis is overwhelming for ordinary families. We know the Government cannot solve everyone's crisis, including the cost-of-living crisis, but it can make a difference to ordinary families who need support. That is what this motion would do. What we are proposing to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Housing Policy (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 48. To ask the Taoiseach the dates of the past five meetings of the Housing for All State lands subgroup. [5615/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Data (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 302. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding given to an organisation (details supplied) in Cork; and the number of stays utilised by survivors of institutional abuse since 2020, by year, in tabular form. [6154/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 355. To ask the Minister for Health the opening hours of Southdoc, Blackpool. [5661/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Services (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 366. To ask the Minister for Health if he will instruct Southdoc to operate a text service for people who are hard of hearing. [5687/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 465. To ask the Minister for Health the funding given by the Cork drug and alcohol taskforce to an organisation (details supplied) in Cork and the number of stays utilised in the facility since 2020 by year in tabular form. [6153/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Gould: 466. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports that a unit (details supplied) in Cork has yet to open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6155/23]