Results 61-80 of 6,339 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Irish Unity: Motion [Private Members] (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: We have a unique opportunity to work together to accomplish something many people thought could never happen. We have brought forward a motion on planning for a united Ireland. Going back to Wolfe Tone, the Fenians and all the people down through the generations, many tried to unite this country as a free 32-county Irish republic. We have the opportunity to take a step closer on that road...

Finance Bill 2025: Second Stage (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: If we ever wanted more proof that the Government has its priorities all wrong, this Bill is it. On a day when the Minister for housing announced a war on dereliction and vacancy, it is a joke. It would be funny if it were not so serious. We have a Finance Bill that does absolutely nothing to tackle either. The housing Minister's war on dereliction will start in two years' time, but for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I thank the witnesses for being here. My first question is to both local authorities. Do they have a derelict sites register and, if so, are they reflective of the derelict sites in their administrative areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Longford County Council identified that it receives €11,000 to return voids, such as boarded-up council properties. Is the shortfall in funding preventing properties being returned.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Ms Healy mentioned that the average figure is €40,000, but the information I have received from another local authority is that some properties, such as complex houses or houses that are old and require a lot of work, could cost €60,000, €70,000 or €80,000 because they are really old. The side-effects of that then, because local authorities only get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I am sorry for interrupting but I am just conscious that my time is limited. I appreciate Ms Healy’s answers. My next question is to both local authorities. If they were to get extra funding and were told that we want no more voids or boarded-up houses and that, the minute they come in, the local authorities should get them out and put teams in place to turn them around, could...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I know the local authorities are doing it quickly, but we are returning houses that do not meet energy efficiency standards because the local authorities do not have the money. I appreciate that. I have a question for the Department. How many staff are working in the vacant homes unit and what percentage of the Department's budget goes on vacancy and dereliction?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Dublin City Council's target was 150 sites.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Could I have the other figures on CPOs? Do the local authority representatives have those figures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Do the Longford local authority representatives have those figures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: The target is one CPO. Is that not a very low figure?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Is that a staffing and funding issue? Mr. Brannigan said Longford has 50 properties identified on the derelict sites register. If one CPO was to be done per year, it would take 50 years. Even if two were done per year, it would still take a long time. What is the issue? Is it to do with staffing, resources or funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: For the local authorities, there is a lot of talk here about compulsorily purchasing and how long CPOs take. Starting with Dublin City Council, the officials were saying they believe they have a plan and funding, but walking around it is horrendous. Cork is the same. Every town and village is blighted by dereliction. We need to be much more aggressive with CPOs. The question for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I thank Mr. Flynn for that. I want to bring in other people. I invited both the current and previous Ministers to walk Dublin city centre, Cork city centre or any town or village and look at the dereliction. How have we allowed the buildings in our capital city and our second city to be falling down around us?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Sorry, it is just that my time is nearly up. Mr. Brannigan is saying the council has 50 derelict properties, it has a target of one a year and maybe upscaling that. What would it take to clear those and what would be the timeline?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I do not doubt Mr. Brannigan on the work they are doing but does the council have the staff to do it? As the party spokesman on local government, I am going around looking at towns, villages and cities. Everywhere I go I see dereliction and I hear a load of work is being done but I do not believe the council has the resources. I want to give it the resources. I want to encourage the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I asked the Department a question. It might come back to me afterwards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I apologise for missing the start of the meeting. I was in the Chamber speaking about dereliction and the new Finance Bill the Minister has brought forward. I thank Mr. O'Connor and Ms Sherry for the unbelievable work they have done. They have been part of raising awareness about the amount of vacancy and, especially, dereliction and the negativity these cause in communities, towns,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: It is a win-win.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: We all know there is loads of work to be done on the CPO process.