Results 2,861-2,880 of 5,816 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: 894. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has a policy of refusing applications for certificates of naturalisation where the applicant was previously illegally present in the State; the length of time which that policy has been in place [55535/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the officials for being here. It is great to meet the management of different local authorities and to pick their brains. The first question I ask of local authorities, which is slightly different from everyone else, is when a person goes into rehab for three or six months or whatever period, do the councils keep them on the housing list? I have asked councils to make sure that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: That is good to hear. On voids, the statistics on the back page of Limerick City and County Council's submission are very impressive. Excellent work is being done by the team involved in respect of derelictions and inspections. Great credit is due to everyone involved in the work on the CPOs for 388 properties. I would like to see every local authority come up with that. The one negative...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: The number of properties Limerick City and County Council has compulsorily purchased has been excellent, to be fair. According to the 1990 Act, all local authorities should be imposing the levy. I know the witnesses are trying to use a carrot and stick approach and I appreciate that they are having some success but there is no ambiguity in the legislation. The levy must be levied and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate that but I want to get to the nub of this. This is legislation that was passed 32 years ago. I have a major problem with local authorities not doing their job when it comes to legislation. I understand Mr. Walsh's point that it is complicated. Cork City Council collected 9% of the levy in 2020. Due to pressure from me and other Deputies, councillors and activists, it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Thomas Gould: Are there derelict sites in Waterford for which the levy is not being paid?

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-----