Results 1,741-1,760 of 5,013 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Work Permits (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Work Permits (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I thank Senator McGahon. Before the Minister of State replies, I would like to be very much associated with the words of congratulations to him. We all knew his capabilities and abilities when he served in this House and he chaired the Brexit committee. His portfolio is very suited to his skill set and we wish him well.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I wish the Cathaoirleach well as he takes up office. I also wish the Leader, Senator Chambers, well. We have already had her as Leader for parts of the last while. I wish them both well. They will be a formidable team and we are lucky and privileged in the Seanad to have people of their calibre. I genuinely say that and I genuinely mean that. I want to raise the issue of thalidomide....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome Mr. Mahon, Mr. Brannigan and the chief executive of Mayo County Council and the director of housing to the meeting. I will stick to pretty short concise questions based on their submissions before us today. Rather than having a load of questions and answers, I will be concise and I hope the witnesses will be able to be concise in their replies. I will touch on Longford first. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: The 50 units. We are talking about an affordable housing scheme, the market not having the capacity to deliver and applications being granted permission with the potential for 50 Part V houses. They have all stalled and the knock-on effect is a negative one. I thank Mr. Mahon for sharing that with us. He went on to say that Longford County Council expects to appoint a town regeneration...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: So Mr. Mahon can see that being in place in the next two to three months.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: That is great. Councillor Gerry Warnock, with whom Mr. Mahon would be familiar, has contacted me on a number of occasions regarding the affordable housing scheme. Today I read an article published some weeks in the online edition of theLongford Leader. Initially, Longford was not in the scheme. Regarding the suggestion that we now have a scheme, I mean no disrespect but it is only a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: Why is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: It goes back to the market.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I do not think any of us needs to be convinced there is a need. Yes, it is a journey but as of today, we have no scheme approved by Government. Am I correct in saying that? We have no affordable scheme for Longford approved by Government as of today? Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: Longford County Council has some properties that are derelict and have been brought to my attention. How many, if any, of those properties are on its derelict sites register? Has it done a comprehensive trawl of its own property assets be they sites, lands or derelict properties? As Mr. Brannigan knows, there is an obligation on the council as custodians of State assets and land assets to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: Does Longford County Council have any capacity for new housing units on any of the land it owns itself involving derelict or vacant sites?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: What sort of numbers does Mr. Brannigan think might be produced from that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the two management teams from Mayo and Longford for coming before the committee. It is meaningful. It is nice to meet the representatives and see the whites of their eyes. This debate gives us a human dimension to all of this topic, which is what this is all about at the end of the day. I do not have any more questions for Longford County Council other than to say we are concerned...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: As many as 1,500 units is a very significant number. This seems to be common all around the country. We talk about solutions and we clearly know that we have these planning permissions. These are clearly a focus and are important to this committee. I thank Mr. Kelly for his response. I am concerned that the county council is not filling the additional 11 staff. Mr. Kelly set out the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: That is a difficulty and requires money. Mr. Kelly has told us about a scheme being conducted by Mayo County Council in Castlebar. How many units will be delivered in Castlebar?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Implementing Housing for All: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I have a question on the survey, and the interesting research which showed that 34 people felt they could afford a house that cost €200,000. Can Mr. Kelly share the heads of that survey because that information would prove interesting to this committee? I believe we should take a look at the information. I know there are different horses for courses. Westport is a very beautiful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Performance Indicators and Public Spending Code: National Oversight and Audit Commission (17 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome Mr. McCarthy and the team from NOAC and congratulate them on the quality of the material they presented to the committee and on their impressive website. Earlier today, the committee had a private meeting and had Wexford, Leitrim and Galway county councillors quoting reports as part of the correspondence and they are very impressive. With such quality, are we getting enough...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Performance Indicators and Public Spending Code: National Oversight and Audit Commission (17 Jan 2023)

Victor Boyhan: That is interesting and a reminder to us as parliamentary representatives and Oireachtas Members that we could, if we had a concern, write to an appropriate Minister and ask him if he would consider that prerogative. I accept it is ultimately a matter for the Minister. We could tell more people about that option, particularly in the parliamentary community. We have had some scary concerns...