Results 3,001-3,020 of 5,816 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. 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.

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

Thomas Gould: I welcome the Minister's announcement that a once-off payment will be made to foster carers before the end of the year. This is welcome. It is not, however, an answer to the question I asked regarding foster carers not receiving a pay increase in 13 years. Foster carers do some of the most important yet toughest work in their own homes, day in and day out. They do not sign off at the end...

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

Thomas Gould: I hear what the Minister is saying. He spoke on Newstalk recently and said that he wished he had offered foster carers an increase in the budget. Now, though, the Minister seemed to be going back on that statement. We are seeking a commitment from him for an increase in the allowance paid to foster carers. There has been a great deal of talk from Ministers after the fact saying this is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Energy Prices (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 20. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which additional needs payments will be used to ensure that those with pay-as-you-go electricity meters do not face disconnection this winter. [49679/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 58. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is increasing resources to reduce processing times of additional needs payment claims. [49678/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Funding (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 281. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has increased resourcing to MABS in view of the increase in financial insecurity within homes. [46260/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: 454. To ask the Minister for Health the funding to be given to each of the local and regional drug and alcohol taskforces in 2023, in tabular form. [50987/22]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Oct 2022)

Thomas Gould: To follow up on the point made by Deputy Ó Broin about the land register, we had representatives from Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council before the joint committee on Tuesday. Next week we will have representatives from Cork City Council and Galway local authorities. In the next few weeks, we also will have representatives from other local authorities....