Results 2,861-2,880 of 5,872 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: The figure is 2,416. If 700 people are added to the list each year, and I am just taking that as an approximate figure, that is 2,800 so we will be 400 worse off. This is no criticism of the local authority. My criticism is that the Government targets are too low.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Yes. What about Meath County Council?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: To clarify this point, Meath County Council's figure is 1,969 between 2020 and 2026. Is that figure correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Yes, including them all. My issue is that even if the figure is rounded off at 2,000, if 900 new applications are added to the list every year, those targets do not meet the need.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: To finish, I thank-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I know great work is being done in both local authorities. We see that from their submissions. I thank them for that. It is not a criticism of them but we are looking at the crisis and we need to come up with solutions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Unfortunately, there are issues with antisocial behaviour by some tenants. Do the local authorities have a tenant enforcement officer or something similar? How do they deal with antisocial behaviour by tenants?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Do the local authorities ever find there is a need to go further than that? In some local authorities, this can be a major issue. If a person or group engages in antisocial behaviour, it can drag down the whole community. Have the witnesses come across that or have they had to tackle it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Is that organised? It sounds excellent. I know nobody wants to be signing those orders but where communities are being destroyed, the local authority must do everything in its power to save the whole community. What Ms Kavanagh described is an approach the Department should support. When we see an issue developing, we should get all the different agencies involved to find out if the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Approved Housing Bodies (17 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: 190. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is an obligation on approved housing bodies to conduct virtual property inspections at the request of a local authority in order to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019; and if so, if he will outline the legislative basis for this requirement. [57150/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Regulations: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I want to put on the record how grateful I am, as I am sure are the Government, all Deputies and Senators and the various officials, for the generosity of the Irish people. They have opened their arms, doors, community centres and GAA clubs to people coming here. At the start of the war, there was a fabulous opening of arms as Irish people stepped up to respond. That is still there....

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: The European Drug Report 2022 states that there has been a worrying increase in crack cocaine use in Belgium, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. This is a massive problem that is placing a major strain on services. Those addicted to crack cocaine behave differently and require different treatment from those who are addicted to heroin. We desperately need a concerted effort across...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Ten per cent.

Energy Regulations: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Last weekend, hundreds of people came onto the streets of Cork city to call on the Government to take action. So far, it has not done enough and people are suffering in this cost-of-living crisis. Their voice and message were clear. People are sick of rising fuel and energy prices and the Government must do more. Caitriona Twomey from Cork Penny Dinners spoke and outlined how that charity...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (16 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: 71. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason that biofuels are subject to a carbon tax. [56818/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Minister of State. I recognise her point about the general round of pay increases. She touched on the main issue, that of the job evaluation scheme, which is the least fair aspect. These workers feel that the evaluation has not been fair on them and their work. We all accept that they are front-line workers. They are continuing to do the work they did during the pandemic....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Minister of State.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Staff (15 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I raise with the Minister of State the issue of the housekeeping attendance in Cork University Hospital. The pay scale of a number of positions in the hospital have been reviewed. They will see increases in the new year and I welcome that. However, housekeepers are to be excluded from this increase. This is despite Cork University Hospital’s providing housekeeping services 24-7....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Glanmire flooded again recently, which affected businesses and homes. I was there on the night and saw the frustration and anger. The people and businesses in the community of Glanmire have been putting up with ten years of broken promises. They are sick of delays. This is like the Cork event centre. Every year, there is an announcement on flood protection for Glanmire but it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (15 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: 109. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the Glashaboy flood relief scheme. [56451/22]