Results 61-80 of 6,292 for speaker:Thomas Gould

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: It was not until I got into politics that I saw the importance of people advocating for people. People with mental health issues, who are among the most vulnerable of all, must have people to advocate for them. I come from a working-class area. Even though I only had two sisters, I had a big extended family and there was always someone there to provide support. Then, when I got into...

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I am sorry for interrupting. How would the NAS find that out? Would someone from the local authority or disability services contact it on the person's behalf?

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Do people in the public service know that? Is it communicated regularly that, when dealing with a person who has a disability, NAS is there to advocate on their behalf? As Ms Byrne said, people could be doing their best and may have the best will in the world, but they obviously do not have the knowledge and experience that NAS has.

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: The Deputy is not trying to put words in Ms Denning's mouth.

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Does the DSS now have the resources, the manpower and the woman power to manage this?

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I would not like to see what happened with Tusla happening here. Tusla was set up but, from day one, it was never resourced to the level it should have been. It is a critical organisation dealing with vulnerable young people. Now we have this work that is being done here which also involves dealing with vulnerable people. If Ms Flynn is not getting the support she needs, she has to be...

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: We were talking about the courts. Deputy Ó Murchú and I visited Mountjoy Prison last year or the year before. We met the governor.

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: The governor outlined the number of people who are in prison but should not be. They are in prison because they have mental health issues. I know people who have gone to prison or who are in the courts at the moment. Their families or friends have contacted me. Those people should not be going through the court system because their issues are mental health issues. During the course of...

Committee on Disability Matters: Autonomy and Integrity for Persons with Disabilities: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: With advocacy, the standard would come up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Rural Bus Transport: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I have only one question for Bus Éireann. I have sent Bus Éireann at least a dozen emails, I put in four parliamentary questions and I have made dozens of phone calls. I am a TD for Cork North Central and the way in which my constituents and I have been treated is absolutely disgraceful. We have children going to special schools who have had no bus service. Do you know how they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Rural Bus Transport: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I will finish with this. Bus Éireann was preparing for today's meeting and that is how this came up. I have raised this on the floor of the Dáil. I put four parliamentary questions to the Minister. What about the people who did not contact me? What about those parents and those children? It is funny the number of kids who have got school transport in the last week. Is it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport: Rural Bus Transport: Discussion (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I appreciate the meeting's time.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: 209. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total SEEP funding requested by Cork City Council under the NWQR in 2025; and the total amount allocated. [56030/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Funding (15 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: 210. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether his Department reviews SEEP funding requests by Cork City Council on a project-by-project basis and allocates individually, or whether an overall allocation is provided. [56031/25]

Cost of Disability: Motion [Private Members] (14 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: The Minister of State and the Government are failing people with disabilities. The budget announced last week did nothing for them and actually made them worse off. The report the Government produced in 2021 outlined that it costs people with disabilities more to live because of the extras they need. It costs anything between €10,000 and €12,000 extra. What has the...

Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: They do not qualify for cost-rental. What is the Minister going to do for them? What is he going to do for families who have nowhere to go and cannot find anywhere to rent or to buy? They are trapped in the middle and the Government let them down in the budget.

Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: Once again, the Government is leaving out ordinary people.

Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: These are facts. I will send the Minister the details if he wants them.

Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: We need to see a major influx of funding and investment in housing and particularly in affordable, cost-rental and social housing. Right now, thousands of people are without secure, affordable housing and they are crying out for solutions. They are looking for the Minister and this Government to bring forward solutions. Cost rental is a good idea - it is one of the things we can all agree...

Housing Finance Agency (Amendment) Bill 2025: Second Stage (14 Oct 2025)

Thomas Gould: I am delighted the Minister said that. This is the pass-the-buck Government, blaming local authorities, which are not being funded. Deputy Browne is the Minister for housing, not the local authority.