Results 3,881-3,900 of 5,683 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have no doubt that the Minister of State's comments were made sincerely. The issue in Cork now, however, is that there are 11 children's disability network teams but only one of them is fully staffed. More than 800 children are on the occupational therapy waiting list in Cork north Lee, but there is only one occupational therapist, OT, for all of them. Is it any wonder that we are having...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate. This is an issue I have been trying to raise for some time. Children's disability services in my constituency of Cork North-Central are in crisis. Unfortunately, my constituency is topping the chart in respect of many of the waiting lists. In November, we had the second longest waiting list for an assessment of needs in the State. In...

Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Second Stage (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Like my party colleague, I cautiously welcome this Bill. It is about time we started regulating the construction industry properly but there is still a great deal of work to be done to make the Bill fit for purpose so that it delivers what we all want to see delivered. In my city of Cork, we have a housing development on Kilmore Road in Knocknaheeny where construction stopped in early...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 262. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the legislative responsibility of management companies within the Multi-Unit Development Act 2011 or other relevant legislation. [2825/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 263. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is legislation or regulation allowing owner-occupiers to call an annual general meeting of a management group in circumstances in which one has not been called for a period of time. [2826/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 264. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe in which a management group of a multi-unit development should convene an annual general meeting. [2827/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 265. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if tenants can join the management group of a multi-unit development. [2828/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the recourse available to owner-occupiers if they feel their management fees are being poorly utilised in a multi-unit development. [2829/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I wish Mr. O'Rourke all the best and I look forward to working with him. The first point I will make is on the St. Kevin's Hospital site in my constituency. I have been advocating for development on this site for ten years or more and I welcome its development. It is about time because it has been lying idle for decades. I also welcome that housing on the site will be 100% social and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Mr. O'Rourke is confirming there will be only 10% social housing on the St. Kevin's Hospital site.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I am concerned by those comments, to be honest. We are a couple of years into this announcement. Mr. O'Rourke said his job was to deliver affordable units, whether houses or apartments. Do not get me wrong. We need affordable and cost-rental housing but we also need social housing. We need the appropriate mix. We have a major housing crisis in Cork in all these areas. It troubles me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Will there be a fixed percentage? If the agency is to build 2,000 units annually, what percentage of those will be universal design? Will it have a disability officer working with the agency?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: We have statistics for how many people are disabled and are on the social housing list. All these things need to be factored in. The agency is at the early stages with these developments and these decisions need to be taken now. I have one final question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: There has been talk of the LDA looking at the old Cork Prison. The Minister has said the building is mothballed but for people living in the Glen in Cork North Central, the site has been left idle. Are there plans for it, perhaps working with Cork City Partnership or Cork City Council, to have mixed tenure housing and a visitor centre or community centre? I know the LDA is looking at it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I want to come back to Mr. O'Rourke and Mr. Coleman on a few questions, the first of which goes back to the need for a disability officer. If we are looking at building 2,000 homes per year, that will amount to 40,000 over 20 years. We would need to put a figure on how many universal design homes we are going to deliver for people with disabilities. The LDA would have to employ a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate that Mr. O'Rourke and Mr. Coleman hear what I am saying. I look forward to them coming back to me on what they will do regarding universal design for people with disabilities, those living with mobility issues and older people. Mr. O'Rourke spoke earlier about sustainability and this is a key part in that sustainability whereby people are going to live in these homes for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Okay. With regard to cost rentals, one of the arguments other members of the board and I have been putting up is that affordability should be based on a person's income and not a reduced rate on the market value. Mr. O'Rourke might give us his thoughts on that. We believe that for a property to be truly affordable, it would be based on a person's ability to pay. If market value is used to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: My final point is that I am concerned about some of the comments today regarding the ten-year mix between affordable, cost-rental and social housing. If I was to be a sceptic or if I was to doubt the Minister or Government, it almost seems to me that the LDA is being structured in such a way as to deliver affordable and cost-rental housing and to leave the provision of social housing up to...