Results 3,661-3,680 of 5,629 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: In fact, I am going to mention an example that is near to County Dublin. I recently saw a report on the expected closure of Greystones Kilcoole community garden, due to its lease not having been renewed. In researching for this meeting, I learned that 80% of community gardens, or 1,920 of them, face a similar fate. Will our guests comment on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: Deputy Ó Broin earlier raised the issue of planning. My father's house, in Knocknaheeny, has a fine big backyard, and many houses that were built 70, 80 or 90 years ago have big front and back gardens. Nowadays, however, especially in the case of city developments, apartments and even some of the regeneration projects in Knocknaheeny, where I come from, there are no front gardens, just...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Feighan, was in Cork last week and visited a community garden. He was asked about funding and support for men's sheds and he said money will always be available for community gardens and similar initiatives under Healthy Ireland. If only 20% of these gardens are permanent, are we funding ones that may soon shut? If we are putting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: To be considered long term or renewable, most leases would have to be for longer than five years. If a lease is longer than five years, the tenant has the option to renew it. If it is for less than five years, the tenant has to leave if the landowner asks. As such, what Mr. McCormack said makes sense. Complimentary comments were made about Cork City Council. I can be critical of local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: Chair, may I-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: There is another issue. I am the chairman of St. Vincent's Hurling and Football Club. Our treasurer, Mr. Kenneth Collins, who is a Sinn Féin councillor in Cork, is working with Cork City Council to designate a part of our sporting complex as an area of biodiversity. We are always looking to keep everything trim and tidy – the pitches, the land around them and the banks –...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Thomas Gould: It was brought to my attention during lockdown that there could be a green space in the area where I live, Gurranabraher, in addition to Farranree, similar to what we would probably see in London. A green space is normally in front of houses that are facing a square but in the case of Gurranabraher and Farranree it is actually at the back of houses. What has happened is that people have put...

Social Welfare (Payment Order) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: Like my colleagues, I congratulate Deputy Kerrane on introducing this Bill and on her Trojan work in representing lone parents as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on social protection. Her Bill would be a step towards ending the victimisation of lone parents and stop them being forced to go to court, which is hard on people physically, mentally and financially. They have to take time off work,...

Town Centre First Policy: Statements (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: I was extremely disappointed last week to learn that Blackpool, in the heart of my community, will not be included in the town centre first policy and therefore will miss out on any funding that will be available. Blackpool is a beautiful and historic village in the heart of Cork city that has so much unlocked potential. I have previously invited the Minister to come to Cork and look at the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: 86. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an update will be provided on the roll-out of the national broadband plan, NBP, in Cork city and county. [9607/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: I ask the Minister to provide an update on the roll-out of the NBP in Cork city and county.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: Steady progress is being made as the Minister says but there are huge parts of my constituency that are still without broadband and that are waiting for it. We rely on the Internet for so much, including security, education, entertainment and working from home. People who are without broadband are at a distinct disadvantage. I am hearing from my constituents in areas like Blarney, Tower,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: I also want to raise an issue experienced by those waiting for high-speed fibre to the home. Thanks to ComReg’s decision D10/18, Eir will not tell people when they will have high-speed Internet. It will not give people a timeline beyond saying, for example, that it will be in 2026. I fully understand the need for fair competition but some compromise has to be reached on this because...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: But there is no timeline.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: 170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the carbon tax and the current cost of living crisis given previous reports, including the ESRI Statistical Report Series 98 of October 2020. [9608/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (24 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: 263. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a building (details supplied) is homeless accommodation or a domestic violence shelter. [10545/22]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: What about Bessborough?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (23 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: Every local authority should have a disability officer.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (23 Feb 2022)

Thomas Gould: There is an accessibility officer in the council. I have no doubt that the person in question takes their job seriously, but realistically, they are not making the changes that need to be made. I know from talking to people within the council that this person wears a number of different hats, and that is not what is needed. We need someone with lived experience and the right connections....