Results 801-820 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: If we believe that to be a risk, how could we calibrate that in a better way? I think it is a risk and I said this to the Department a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate that the witnesses might not have an answer to this now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: Like it or loathe it, LVS is a blunt instrument here. I just have a fear that we are going to create communities that are not balanced. The same applies in the reverse. If we have an area that has solely private housing, for example, and we need to see the development of social housing or affordable housing in an area, it could be a very useful tool. If, however, we have an area that has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: They are not stated to be, yes, but as we know, there are a lot turnkey social units which are delivered by the market. I think it is a quick delivery mechanism, so it would not capture those. Is that what Mr. Jones is saying? I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps the Chair is onto something in that. Maybe when we are making our report on this, we need to flag that. Perhaps...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: Perhaps we can tease it out. I thank the Chair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: A person would get planning permission for a unit. It is not designated as a social, affordable, or private house at planning stage.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (10 May 2023)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Josepha Madigan. This topic is of the utmost importance to parents and students with additional needs in Tramore and the surrounding areas of County Waterford. The built-up area of Tramore has a population of over 10,000 and its...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs (10 May 2023)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for his reply, a copy of which I have read very carefully. There is slightly contradictory information in it. One additional primary school place in Waterford has been sanctioned. I understand it is in St. Stephen's De La Salle in Waterford city. The reply later references that four primary school ASD classes will be available for September 2023 but only two...

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House, and the Civil Engagement Group for bringing forward this Bill in its Private Members' time. Fine Gael will also be opposing the Bill for many of the reasons that have been outlined by my colleague, Senator Chambers. I think there is a conflict of interest with the returning officer of Seanad Éireann overseeing Seanad elections and...

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

John Cummins: I thank Senator McDowell. It is very important to have a second Chamber that scrutinises legislation. Everyone in this House takes his or her job exceptionally seriously. The Supreme Court ruling has been handed down. Senator Malcolm Byrne's Bill goes a way towards addressing that. As a former graduate of the University of Limerick, UL, I welcome the judgment. I do not have a vote to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: The last point made there is important. There needs to be an education piece done in respect of what MMC actually comprises. The first timber frame houses built in County Waterford were developed at Farmleigh more than 20 years ago. At the time, people said it was not going to work and these were matchstick houses that would never take off. Mr. Parlon stated that the ability to provide...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: Does Mr. Downey have global numbers in that regard? To what does it amount in terms of delivery in 2022?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: As regards timelines for delivery, last week the committee heard about 3D units and the associated delays relating to site identification, groundworks and so on. I regularly speak to developers in Waterford regarding delivering schemes. I am thinking of Kent construction, for example. It has a fantastic system in place that is very similar to what Glenveagh Properties is delivering in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: That is an important point. At the end of last year I visited the CEO of Medite Smartply in Waterford Port. I raised the question of how to test that in Scandinavia. He pointed to Scotland and what they have managed. I have previously mentioned it at this committee. I know we are also going to explore the ability to go higher. They have achieved it. The CEO showed me the footage and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: That is a fair point and it was said to me when I visited Medite Smartply. There is capacity within our indigenous sector. They do not care where they sell it to but if the timber is better utilised within our own country, that is for the better. I would like to tease out further Deputy Duffy's comments relating to the compact design and that consultation which closed last week or the week...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: Yes, which is why I am asking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

John Cummins: In the same context and vein, and I appreciate we are diverging slightly but it is all interconnected, I assume the CIF has the view that it is important when we talk about density that what we count is very important. For example, if attenuation tanks that were once there are now ponds that are visible and usable. Formerly, there would have been open space on top of them but if they are...