Results 3,861-3,880 of 5,683 for speaker:Thomas Gould
- Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion: Taoiseach's Communications (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: What about Cuba, when it was the other way around?
- Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion: Taoiseach's Communications (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: Yes, and there is a blockade on Cuba-----
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: 96. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the average local authority will pay over €300,000 to an organisation (details supplied) for mortgage-to-rent schemes over the next 25 years for properties the local authority will not own; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62338/21]
- Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: 277. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason that a local authority can grant a transfer from social housing. [2912/22]
- Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: 706. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new ferry, which will service Tory Island, will be put into operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2913/22]
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: My first question is to Mr. O'Sullivan. How many full-time dedicated staff in the Department are working on addressing vacancy only?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: My question was how many people in Mr. O'Sullivan's Department are working solely on vacancy and dereliction.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: I appreciate that, and I mean no disrespect to the staff who are doing multiple jobs, but this goes to the crux of the problem. There is no one in the Department working on an estimated 92,000 or 90,000 vacant properties. We do not have a team. We should have a team in the Department driving this. Mr. O'Sullivan made a point about having only three full-time vacant home officers in all 31...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: Sorry, I do not mean to interrupt Ms Graham, I am just managing my time. This legislation came in in 1990. That is 32 years ago. Was there no one in the Department looking at this in 32 years? I have raised this for 12 years in Cork City Council where I was stonewalled. Different Sinn Féin representatives have raised the issue of vacancy and dereliction. An official told me once...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: I want to stop Ms Graham on that because my time is nearly up. Before Housing for All, was no policy being implemented to tackle dereliction and vacant property for the past 32 years?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: I appreciate Ms Graham's answers. My points were not a criticism of her Department.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: Going back to the Department officials, there is a €50,000 grant given to each local authority to employ a vacant homes officer. There are only three full-time vacant homes officers in the 31 local authorities. Another Department has sent out a circular that every local authority should have a full-time vacant homes officer but I do not believe one person can do that job. In Cork...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: In 2019, 12 local authorities did not collect any derelict sites levies. In 2020, 13 local authorities did not collect such levies. What is being done to rectify that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: I appreciate that but let us clarify this. A total of 18 local authorities have been collecting it and 13 have not. Thirteen are completely disregarding the legislation. Is there not an onus on the Department to ensure local authorities do their job? There is €12.5 million in derelict site levies outstanding. Last year, only 6.9% of derelict site levies that were imposed were...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: In a nutshell, are the local authorities not doing their job?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: I thank Ms Graham. Mr. Reynolds referred to thousands of properties that could be developed. I believe he said they are between the canals or quays. I am sorry if I am misquoting him. I am a Corkman but, being a Deputy, I am around Dublin. I see derelict and vacant sites all over the place. Mr. Reynolds has considered this. What is hindering Dublin's local authorities and others from...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: I completely agree. Ms Vallone mentioned studies that involved walking around to see the issues in areas. We can sometimes overcomplicate things and have so much red tape. Things can be done when there are good officials, architects and councillors on the ground.
- Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (20 Jan 2022)
Thomas Gould: It should not be up to a parent to provide a service either. The Minister of State might look into that as well, please.