Results 3,401-3,420 of 5,872 for speaker:Thomas Gould

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]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vacant Properties (16 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 69. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the collection of vacancy data by the Revenue Commissioners. [29649/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Service Level Agreements (16 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 109. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the leasing of services through service-level agreements; and if he will hold a preference for State-provision of services. [29652/22]

Special Educational Needs School Places: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have just listened very closely to what the Minister has said and I have heard her outline investment and funding that is going in to special education. If one was to listen to her describe the investment, one would say we were in a much better place. Last Saturday, I went to Grand Parade in Cork city for the second protest vigil organised by Families Unite for Services and Support, FUSS,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (14 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the BusConnects plan for Cork. [29647/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Thomas Gould: 120. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of proposed light rail stops on the northside of Cork city. [29648/22]