Results 3,341-3,360 of 5,817 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 653. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has met with third level institutions to progress the establishment of a neurology nursing course in this State. [32561/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I go back to the point made earlier about data. We really missed an opportunity. Like all of us, I am not sure how we missed that opportunity to include much better and more detailed questions in the census that would have given us an opportunity to put the data together. Deputy Ó Broin made the point about local authorities and the point was made that when people fill in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: Ms Lally touched on the understanding of universal design. I put my hand up and admit that I used to understand universal design was for everyone, whether an older person with limited mobility, any person with limited mobility or a person in a wheelchair. Then we found out that is not the case. There is universal design, universal design for people in wheelchairs and universal design for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank Ms Carthy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I think that is what I said. It should not be a financial barrier.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: We might need a book.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I want to continue on the point that has just been discussed on build-to-buy apartments and the extra 10%. There is no ring-fencing of the units for use by people who require UD apartments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: Does a percentage have to be put to one side so people have the ability to access them? Anyone who wants to do so can buy a bigger apartment and those who need the space might not be able to access it. There is no ring-fencing of the properties. Is this correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: There was a discussion on the exemption for build-to-rent apartments. This is a shocking exemption. A proportion should be set aside. This has been mentioned in the witnesses' submissions. Something that has been raised often with me in recent years is the cost of adapting houses. The maximum that can be obtained is €30,000. No one can adapt a house for €30,000. Even...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: My next question is for Age Action. Recently, the Minister announced a reduction from 80% to 40% in the rental income people on the fair deal scheme would have to pay the HSE. Age Action advocated that it be reduced to zero. This would have allowed more properties to come back onto the rental market. What is the opinion of the witnesses on the Minister's move to reduce it to 40%? Has he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: What Ms Murphy has described is what I hear from constituents who come to me looking for health and support. Ms Murphy mentioned the review of the adaptation grants. We will all make strong submissions on that. Ms Lally discussed the eight houses the Irish Wheelchair Association built in Belmullet. Should it be a benchmark for all local authorities to develop similar housing programmes?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: Would the Disability Federation of Ireland echo the points that have been made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: That is what we will take from today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: On Age Action's point, which makes complete sense, 40% of nothing is nothing. The more older people who make the decision to rent out their properties, the fewer people there will be who are affected by the housing crisis. Moreover, it would provide older people living in nursing homes under the fair deal scheme with an income. The point has been made that everyone would do it, but for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: We discussed the public realm and spoke about it earlier. After the first lockdown was lifted, I put a question to Cork City Council on the pedestrianisation of streets. It was brilliant and fabulous for some of the streets. It got businesses open again and people out. I think people started to forget where we were in the lockdowns and how tough it was for people. However, there were a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I apologise for my ignorance, but is there not a standard and certain specifications that must be met by all local authorities when it comes to providing disabled parking spaces?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: This will be my last question. My apologies for keeping our guests so late, but it is brilliant to have them in here and to be able to ask them questions in person. When I was a councillor on Cork City Council, I tabled a motion seeking a disability officer for the local authority. All planning and other decisions relating to disabled parking, footpaths or building, for example, would have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Universal Design In Building: Discussion (21 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: The point was made that communities and groups are being pitted against each other, whether it is businesses, cyclists or people with disabilities. There is a need to have standards in place that everybody buys into. If standards are set, whether in the delivery of housing or accessibility, it is important everyone lives with them. I am aware of issues relating to cycling groups that do...

Special Educational Needs: Statements (16 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: This week saw the Government vote against a Sinn Féin motion on special education. Instead of engaging and working with Sinn Féin and working together to come up with solutions for the most vulnerable children in the State, the Government again refused to work with us and to listen to those children and their families. There were 296 primary school special classes in Cork city...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Housing Policy (16 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 34. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department has engaged with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to source a better solution for the mortgage to rent scheme given the potential profits available to a private operator. [29650/22]