Results 2,681-2,700 of 5,629 for speaker:Thomas Gould
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: We will agree to disagree because the legislation states that the derelict sites levy should be collected. It is not just Waterford. As far I can see, every local authority is picking and choosing. If somebody gets a parking fine in Waterford, he or she has to pay it. Is that not right?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: However, people do not have to pay the derelict sites levy. I thank Mr. Walsh for his honesty. I appreciate it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses again. It is great to get the different views and policies of the two local authorities and to hear how they are operating. There is certainly good work being done. To touch base on the returns or the voids, Mr. Grimes made the point that Waterford City and County Council's goal has been to get back to a turnaround time of 15 weeks, which is a great ambition. That...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: That is the maximum that can be claimed back.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: This is my point. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that local authorities should not have to apply to the Department to get permission in respect of voids. On average, Limerick City and County Council is getting back ten a month. Limerick and Waterford councils should have the authority to get those out as quickly as possible and then apply to the Department to get the money back. In...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: I am not sure what the stock is like in Limerick or Waterford, but in Cork a lot of our stock could be 80, 90 or 100 years old. We are talking about major spending to get those properties up to standard and get them out. The Department should make funding available for properties that are older or in a rundown state to allow local authorities to get them out. Is that a fair enough point to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: I am not talking about objecting to money. If Limerick and Waterford councils had the money to deal with long-term lets, the really rundown properties, would that bring down their figures? I will put it this way. I know vacant properties that the council in Cork owns and that are scenes of antisocial behaviour, dumping and gangs, dragging down the whole community. It is a shame. The...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: Did that clear all the long-term lets?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: I have a few quick-fire questions. What is the cost of an affordable house in Limerick or Waterford that the local authorities are selling?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: No. If I want to buy a house from Waterford City Council under an affordable housing scheme, how much will I be charged-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: The €75,000 comes after that. Is €250,000 an affordable price for a three-bedroom in Waterford?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: We will call it at €210,000. We will split the difference. Is €210,000 an affordable price for a house compared-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: What is the position in Limerick?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: What would a person buying that on the affordable housing scheme have to pay?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: I would argue that 15% below market value would not be affordable to many people. We had one side of Dublin City Council before the committee saying that it is running an affordable housing scheme that is unaffordable. Do the witnesses think the affordable housing schemes in their local authorities are affordable to ordinary people?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: I would say Mr. Walsh is right. The problem, however, is that some people do not qualify for social housing and do not have the wages to get affordable housing. We still have a trapped middle of people who are just above the social housing cap. What is the gross figure on the housing lists in Waterford and Limerick? When I say "gross" I include HAP, RAS and any other such scheme.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: And in Limerick?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)
Thomas Gould: To return to derelict sites, how many such sites on the register belong to the local authorities?