Results 2,861-2,880 of 5,683 for speaker:Thomas Gould

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?

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

Thomas Gould: That is great. I am conscious of time but want to ask another question. In August this year, there were 104 first-time applicants to Cork City Council's housing list. When I was on the council, going back to 2019 or 2020, there was an average of some 1,200 families per year coming onto the local authority list. If we look at the amount of social housing being developed, even with Cork...

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

Thomas Gould: I have two further questions if the witnesses can answer, allowing for time constraints. Is there a timeline for the completion of the Knocknaheeny west quarter regeneration and can Mr. Geaney supply us with a rough estimate of its completion date? I went to the first meeting on this project in September 2000 and now 22 years later, it is still ongoing. The other question relates to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: But after a year, in layman's terms, that is too long.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: But not to wait until next year.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 99. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions that he is taking to increase foster care allowance. [49682/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Children in Care (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: This question is to ask the Minister what actions he is taking to increase the foster care allowance since it has not been increased in 13 years.