Results 1,801-1,820 of 2,156 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 (5 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: To be of assistance, I agree with what the Chair has said. I am also mindful that members are not here because the Dáil and Seanad are sitting. We agreed a work programme in our private session. Every member of the committee agreed to that programme. If we are going to chop and change that, then we may have to look at dropping what has already been agreed. I was of the same opinion...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: In recent weeks, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has had significant dialogue with Irish Water and officials from the Department on infrastructure deficits in water and wastewater, particularly in small towns and villages. A total of €97.5 million was approved by the Government and the regulator to allow Irish Water to set up a specific fund...

Seanad: Housing For All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss and listen to statements on what I believe will be one of the most important policy documents the Government will deliver in its term. Improving the number of housing options available to the people of this country and supporting them to set down roots and have a place to call their own have been among my main priorities since entering politics...

Seanad: National Lottery (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (29 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' Bill. Like other Members, I wish to compliment my colleague, Senator Ward, on bringing forward the Bill for consideration. I should say at the outset that I have no vested interest in this discussion. I am not anti-gambling. I play the lotto. I also place the odd bet on football or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: It might not have been raised because there are other priorities within a utility of that size and smaller water and wastewater infrastructure schemes are not the top priority. That is the reason we have established the small towns and villages growth programme. If Part 8 could specifically be used in that context, it would enable us to be able to get on site quicker with housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: As a Government party representative, I acknowledge that mistakes were made along the way in the establishment of Irish Water, but one of the mistakes was not the establishment of a single utility for water in the country. I come from an area, Waterford, that would have been to the fore in delivering a lot of excellent water and wastewater infrastructure, especially in Waterford city. We do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I thank our witnesses. While people will focus, understandably, on the issues that arose in Wexford and Dublin, this meeting request was made before that. It is important that we focus as well on infrastructure and constraints, particularly with reference to the small towns and villages growth programme which is geared at delivering in areas of growth potential which otherwise would not be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: We will share time. To take it up where we left off, the timeline of three to five years has been mentioned multiple times. I ask the CCMA how that compares to the timelines that it operated on when it had control of both water and wastewater. Obviously, it had the ability to use Part 8 to deliver infrastructure. What were the timelines on both water and wastewater? I know it differs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: Would Mr. Mulholland acknowledge that Part 8 was useful in that context?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: In the context of the growth programmes for small towns and villages that we are speaking about in particular, does Mr. Mullholland agree that Part 8 would be useful in speeding up delivery in light of the constraints in our rural towns and villages?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: It would be good if all that information could be provided.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating my colleague from the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Senator Moynihan, on her marriage last week and I also congratulate my colleague, Senator Ward, on his engagement. I welcome the initial details of the Government's new redundancy initiative, which was announced at lunchtime today and is seeking to ensure workers do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: Logging off and logging back on did the trick. I thank the witnesses. This proposed Bill is a technical measure, as has been mentioned, but it will have the important role of facilitating the amalgamation of the three bodies. I will follow up on Deputy Ó Murchú's point on the Valuation Office because it pertains to the local authority sector in particular. Councillors around the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I appreciate that. Of course valuations have to be done by valuers, but there is significant administration work involved, in addition to the valuations, in getting all the information uploaded to the system. In the run-up to budget time in a local authority, will it be possible to deploy additional resources to maximise the data that can be inputted and ensure local authorities are not at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: While I am conscious that I am straying into industrial relations issues, this has an impact on the ground. I am happy with the Bill, which is technical in nature. I believe having the three entities in one organisation will be a success. The ability to redeploy resources where they are needed at points in time throughout the year is an issue that should be raised with the new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (LSRD) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I have a question for Mr. Parlon and Mr. Benson and it follows the Chairman's question. Excluding the strategic housing developments that have received planning permission in 2020 and 2021, which would allow for the 12 months to 18 months lead-in to commencement that Mr. Benson mentioned in his first contribution, we would still only have 47% commencement on SHDs, which is disappointing when...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development (Amendment) (LSRD) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: Other members, including Senator Boyhan, are looking to get in so I will cede my time.

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Jul 2021)

John Cummins: I spoke yesterday on Second Stage. I join others in complimenting my Waterford colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on ensuring this legislation passed all Stages before the summer recess. It is fantastic that such positive legislation will have an impact on so many families right across the State, in both rural and urban Ireland. This is not just about farm families but also...

Seanad: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister the House. It is true that this measure was not in the original Bill. I sat on Waterford City and County Council for 11 years and always took that role exceptionally seriously, as does every councillor in the country. It is also true that I have reservations about this section 183 change. However, it is also true, as Senator Fitzpatrick referenced, that much has...