Results 901-920 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: I am not hearing that commitment from what Ms Farrelly said.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Sure. I have always advocated giving flexibility to the local authority sector. That is a given as far as I am concerned. However, what I do not want is that flexibility being used as a barrier to implementing this scheme to the fullest extent that we all want from a Department and an Oireachtas perspective. I refer to Ms Stapleton and the RTB figures. I appreciate the RTB is not...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: I will take up a couple of the points made by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan but in a different way. How many local authorities currently operate the choice-based letting system?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: On the acquisition cost guidelines, I am all for giving flexibility to the local authority sector and would like to see further flexibility given regarding the ceilings. It is true that the market price in a given local authority area may be above the ceiling. Should a local authority have to go back to the Department to get sanction in that regard? Is it not sufficient for the local...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: When will they be ready?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: What is meant by "really quickly"?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Weeks could be too long. What I am trying to get at is that we need a streamlined process. Those of all parties and none agree that we need to move quickly in this space. The local authorities have a large role to play in streamlining and the Department has a role to play in enabling them to do so. The arrangement should be loosened in order that the sales can be completed outside the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: It is all urgent.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: The next slot is for Fine Gael. I will take it. It was mentioned that this would be ready in the next number of weeks. The thresholds for cost-rental are €53,000 net after tax. Cost-rental is obviously not for social housing applicants or those in receipt of HAP but we did see the social housing thresholds increase by €5,000 at the start of the year. I assume that it is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Logically it would make sense that those thresholds would at least reflect the uplift in the social housing thresholds if not beyond. I would be in favour of going beyond. Is there a timeline for when the Department will be in a position to clarify that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: That is the administrative scheme but I assume the intention is to streamline both of what will be announced at the same time.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Regarding the targets relating to the tenant in situscheme, which are fluid obviously, the Department has seen fit to allocate those to each local authority. This is the right way to go about it. Ms Stapleton knows that I have long advocated for targets to be placed on local authorities across all the delivery mechanisms, including the repair-and-lease scheme, for which we do not have...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Is there a timeline for that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Has the CCMA received any information on that? Not yet. Perhaps it is imminent. Regarding wider leasing, Ms Stapleton mentioned the targeted leasing of 1,000 units, primarily one-beds. This is an issue when it comes to getting people out of homelessness. When local authorities have appeared before the committee during sessions on Housing for All, I asked each one whether it was in favour...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Could the witnesses from the CCMA tell me how that is operating? If somebody owns or is refurbishing 20 one-bed units, is it easy for local authorities to approach the Department and say there is an opportunity to enter into a 20 or 25-year lease on those units?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: If there is capacity for a local authority to be able to deliver 20 units because they are being refurbished and are coming back into use after being out of commission for a significant period, can the local authority liaise with the Department and say there is an opportunity to enter into a long-term leasing arrangement for them? Is this option available to local authorities?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: This really needs to be looked at. All of the local authorities have indicated that they want it to be re-examined. I would like it to happen as well.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: To whom is the Deputy directing his question?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: That is a very fair assessment of things. Will Mr. O'Reilly, subsequent to today's meeting, send the committee a breakdown of those that have been completed and those that are in process? It would be useful.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Tenant In Situ Process: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)
John Cummins: Senator Fitzpatrick is ceding her time to Deputy Gould.