Results 2,801-2,820 of 5,629 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: He has not.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with universities in Cork to discuss the potential of a northside campus. [51643/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that he has provided to University College Cork and Munster Technological University to build student accommodation in 2023. [51644/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. Cork City Council is seen by the Minister as one of the best local authorities for delivering affordable or social housing. He said it and I have seen great work being done. My issue is that the Government's housing targets are not ambitious enough. I was a councillor for 11 years. As far as I am aware, Cork City Council has hit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I acknowledge that. The figures show this. My issue is that I think Cork City Council should be given more money, resources and staff. If the council can hit every target, then why not double them? These figures show that the housing crisis is getting worse in Cork. This is what they show. The Minister needs to back Cork City Council more. We saw extreme weather conditions at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: Is this a situation where what happens policy-wise, or what is stated, is not what happens on the ground? Deputy Ó Laoghaire and I recently met with representatives of Cork Simon Community. The organisation is doing great work. The issue, though, is that there seems to be a disconnect. Can we be assured this policy is in place for the winter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank Mr. Geaney. The Minister was on RTÉ last night and he stated that it was possible to buy an affordable house in Fingal for €166,000. The cheapest house it is possible to buy in Cork city is on the Boherboy Road for €242,000. I think they are gone now. Can someone explain to me why a house in Cork is €76,000 dearer than one in Dublin? From what I can see,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate that. My issue is that people in Cork are paying more for their homes. The council is delivering affordable housing. Good work is going on there and I recognise it. Why is the Government not supporting Cork City Council to deliver truly affordable homes? If a two-bedroom home on the Boherboy Road costs €217,500, this is still €51,000 extra. To let people know,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I am sorry to interrupt, but my time is up. I know what Mr. Geaney is saying, but these houses are not affordable. I will put one last question to Mr. Geaney, on which he can provide me with an answer later. What is the maximum price for an affordable three-bedroom property in Togher and Blarney? This figure is not on the website yet. I thank Mr. Geaney.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I will ask some quick-fire questions of Cork City Council. How many HAP properties is it in the process of purchasing? How many HAP properties have notices to quit of which it is aware? How many people are currently in homeless accommodation as a result of HAP properties being sold?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: How many people have gone into homeless accommodation as a result of their houses being sold?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank Mr. Ó Donnabháin. I have another few questions. How many staff work full-time in the derelict sites unit in Cork City Council? To how many properties does the €4.1 million that is outstanding in the derelict sites levy relate? To be fair, I must give credit to the council. In the past three years, there has been a huge improvement in derelict sites levies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank Mr. Reidy. I have a huge issue with dereliction in Cork. Recently, the Good Shepherd Convent was burned down for the third time. I am talking about major fires. There have been dozens of fires on the site, which puts fire brigade officers and emergency services people at risk. There have been fires in the former Sunset Ridge Hotel, the St. Kevin's hospital site and Vita Cortex in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank Mr. Reidy for that. I am conscious that my time is running out. We still have a huge eyesore on North Main Street. It was a very dangerous building. We have other such buildings in the centre of Cork city. I do not understand how landlords let buildings get into that condition. The buck stops with Cork City Council. I do not want to see the likes of what has happened on North...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: This is the point I am making. Cork City Council delivered 32 properties in Ballinglanna and 75 on Lancaster Quay, and 1,800 people applied for one development and 900 for another. This shows that the Government targets are too low. That 1,800 people applied for 75 properties shows the interest in and the need for housing out there. This is not a criticism of Cork City Council because it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have a question for the representatives from both local authorities. It is the same question I asked the witnesses last week. As my party's spokesperson on addiction recovery and well-being, I was contacted by a person who is in recovery for six months and has been taken off the housing list. I am not sure whether it is a case of being taken completely off it or suspended. Is this a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate that. What is the position with Galway City Council?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: I am asking specifically about the situation where a person has a housing need and is on the list and then he or she goes into recovery. It could be argued that because people are in recovery, their housing need has changed. Our argument, however, is that within three or six months, they will be out of recovery and will still need housing. The witnesses are suggesting this is dealt with on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: Is it not the case that councils must apply to the Department for approval?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: What is the view of Galway City Council?