Results 1,221-1,240 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Okay. I see the additional challenge SDCC has, which, perhaps, other local authorities do not have. Fingal is drawing up its development plan at present. Given what I said in terms of getting those rightsizing schemes close to the localities in which people live, is that a consideration for Fingal County Council's when it comes to the development plan? Are there sites which are not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank Ms. Farrelly. Another point that Deputy Lahart referenced relates to sinking funds, which do not exist in terms of local authority and AHB stocks. This is a constant bone of contention as regards maintenance. It is built into the cost-rental piece, which is obviously what makes it more attractive for AHBs in the context of wanting to deliver in that space, notwithstanding the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Okay, but there is no intention to introduce a scheme whereby for X bracket it would be 13%, 14%, or 15% and that this would be based on income? The question is more tied in to whether it is impacting the council's ability to maintain its stock.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I can wait until the next round to ask further questions if the Chair wishes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I will focus on leasing, to which there is some ideological opposition. In my book, I have always said that any unit that can be secured for an individual or a family that gives them secure accommodation for a period of 20 or 25 years is far preferable to someone being in an unsecure HAP property. I note from the figures that South Dublin County Council delivered 353 leased units between...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Is higher density delivery a key point as well here? A lot of those schemes in Dublin are not being activated at the moment. Does Ms Farrelly believe that a leasing scheme could unlock more of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: What is Mr. Ward's view?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I have a question on turnaround times. Fingal mentioned around 32 weeks for re-letting and subsequently mentioned a framework that was in place for maintenance. Is it not the case that the frameworks have reduced letting times because they do not have to go out for tender for each individual project? Tied to that I assume South Dublin County Council is doing that because it has a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I am interested in south Dublin whose turnaround is 24 weeks as I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: It has gone up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementation of Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Understood. I thank Mr. Ward.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Further to Senator Moynihan’s comments on HAP tenants in situ, we have a window of opportunity in that space. To be clear, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has instructed local authorities to purchase properties where there are HAP tenants in situ. In fact, at a meeting of the joint committee yesterday, Cork City Council said it has 50 such applications under...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank our witnesses for being here to help us with our work regarding the implementation of Housing for All. Starting with Galway, I would like some clarity concerning the figures provided. The first page of the opening statement refers to, if I combine the build figure with the acquisition one, 174 and 15, a total of 189. Turning to the second page of that statement, and looking at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: The total is 154 to 158 units.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: That is fewer units than were even referred to in the opening statement provided to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Will Ms Philbin please elaborate on what is at work here regarding this drop-off in the target? Can the factors behind this be explained? I understand they will be multifaceted across the board, but is there one particular factor across several schemes that has impacted the most?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Is the delivery of those now expected in quarter 1 of 2023?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank Ms Philbin. Turning to the issues of vacancy and dereliction, these questions are for the representatives of both councils. Starting with Cork, how many repair and lease units have been delivered in the last four years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: If three units are being delivered within the same property, then that is €180,000. The council's figure is actually five and it had 34 inquiries. Why were there 34 applications but only a follow-through of five units delivered across two developments?