Results 3,881-3,900 of 5,629 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: 2038. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding is available for a centre (details supplied). [63254/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: With regard to the national oversight committee, many people are worried that there is an agenda to remove some, if not all, of the community and voluntary networks. Certainly we have seen issues before and since Christmas. Will the Minister of State give a commitment that he will retain all of the community and voluntary groups on the national oversight committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have a few questions but I will be as quick as I can. First of all, the Minister of State and the officials referenced the Tallaght drug and alcohol task force report, which is an excellent report. It made the point that there is an urgent need to address the impact of crack cocaine on individuals, families and communities. This report said that, even before Covid-19, there was chronic...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: In the report it asked for a million. It is a yes or no question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: So the answer to that is "No". In relation to the north inner city-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: There is an epidemic of crack cocaine use at the moment. I have the report here. The Minister of State has the same report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: We have never restored funding to task forces. Ten years ago a task force was getting more funding. Deputy Feighan is the Minister of State now. Just to let him know how far behind I feel he and the Department are, in my budget submission that I put in as part of Sinn Féin's budget, I looked for an additional €45 million to go into drug and recovery services. What he announced...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: This programme was from 2017 to 2020. We are now at the start of 2022. Some pregnant women, who are some of the most vulnerable people, are in throes of addiction and we have got nothing. It is shocking. I think the Minister of State needs to step in now. These are people who need support. It is unbelievable that out of 50 actions, it is not even included in the response and there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: A final point to note is that since Covid-19 started, we have lost 100 residential beds and 500 people are on the waiting list for those beds. That needs to be actioned. I know other Deputies and Senators want to come in and I will not take up their time, but addiction and recovery services have been among those worst affected by the Covid-19 crisis and the onus is on us, the Minister of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Drugs Strategy: Minister of State at the Department of Health (19 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: As the Minister of State will be aware, there are issues with the national oversight committee. Will he confirm that all community and voluntary networks will retain their place on the oversight committee for the duration of the current phase of the national drugs network? Will he confirm that any change that takes place will be open and transparent? This has not happened. Will the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: That is not a problem, Chairman. I thank everyone for coming today and for speaking to us. I have a couple of questions. As was just outlined, we conducted a survey on sustainable transport in my constituency of Cork North-Central. The survey found that 74% of people felt that it was not safe to cycle in our constituency. It also found that 64% of people noticed that the cycle lanes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses. As someone who lives in and represents the area, everything they said makes complete sense. I have another question for the representatives of the TU Dublin. The research they carried out in Blackrock sounds very interesting. I know that we have very similar initiatives in Cork with on-street dining, pedestrianisation and improved public spaces. Cork City Council...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I have a few questions so I will try to be brief.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: Mr. Donovan from Cork Cycling Campaign spoke earlier about changing attitudes, changing the message, trying to get people to buy into that and - Chairman, you touched on this - changing people's behaviour, their attitudes and the culture of society at present regarding the car. Society is about the car instead of it being about walking, cycling and using public transport. Mr. Donovan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I thank Ms Harvey. I had a question for Dr. D'Arcy on shared bikes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Jan 2022)

Thomas Gould: I made another point on vacancy and dereliction. I am not sure if someone can answer my question on urban regeneration.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Real Estate Investment Trusts (16 Dec 2021)

Thomas Gould: 101. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of existing residential housing units that have been acquired by real estate investment trusts, REITS, and Irish real estate funds in each of the years 2018 to 2020, by county; his views on whether the tax advantages provided by both tax structures are justified with respect to the acquisition of existing dwellings; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 Dec 2021)

Thomas Gould: 15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve the booking system through Irish Rail for persons with a travel pass. [62341/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (16 Dec 2021)

Thomas Gould: 23. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost of delaying the M20 process and the timeline for delivery of the M20 project. [62340/21]