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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consultation on the Draft National Planning Framework: Discussion (11 Jul 2024)

John Cummins: I thank the witnesses. I have an open mind as to which is better as well - possibly an extension to the end of September. That would allow us as a committee to meet to discuss this and give sufficient feedback. That would be appropriate, but that is a discussion for another day. The area I want to focus on is the population targets, specifically as regards Waterford. This has been a...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (27 Jun 2024)

John Cummins: I commend Senator Boyhan on being able to speak for longer than 15 minutes. I will be sharing time with Senator Seery Kearney. As has been mentioned, this is a colossal Bill. It is 747 pages, has 22 Parts, six Schedules and 590 sections. It is the biggest overhaul of our planning legislation in a quarter of a century. Why are we doing it? We are doing it to bring clarity, consistency...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Parks and Wildlife Service Strategic Review: Discussion (25 Jun 2024)

John Cummins: The reason I focused so much on the stakeholder forum in the first round was the very one just outlined, because it is a case of all parties working together, including the agriculture community, those who enjoy the outdoors and country pursuits, and environmental NGOs. All have a role to play in protecting and enhancing our environment. I love the outdoors, was involved in the scouts when...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

John Cummins: I turn to funding for roads, which is a topic we are all familiar with. I seek a debate with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on this issue across the suite of areas from national projects to local projects. I have become aware of an issue with TII where funding was allocated by the Government and the Minister for specific programmes of works in the 2024 allocation. However, when a local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Current Progress and Future Projections of Uisce Éireann Objectives: Uisce Éireann (18 Jun 2024)

John Cummins: There is a case, which I have raised with Uisce Éireann, at Cruachán in Dungarvan. It was an old McInerney Homes estate. McInerney Homes went into receivership. There has been subsequent development on the site and 60 of the units were originally taken in charge. Essentially, two developers are at play there at the moment, there is the local authority and there is Uisce...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Discussion (13 Jun 2024)

John Cummins: ...seen the biggest development under that, which was built in Waterford. It has 71 units for older persons in Manor Hill. The Minister was there for the opening of it. It is far better for people to be in a long-term, leased property for 25 years than it is for them to be in a HAP property or in a hotel room, and anyone who argues the opposite needs to get their head checked. I will...

Seanad: Housing Commission Report: Motion (29 May 2024)

John Cummins: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I welcome the Minister of State. Listening to the Sinn Féin representatives deliver their prepared speeches, one could forgive them for leaving out the fact that many of the things which are undoubtedly working and which were put in place by the Government have been shamelessly opposed by their party. Last year, 32,700 homes were delivered in this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (21 May 2024)

John Cummins: As a former teacher, I am sure the teacher is probably not best pleased with that. The students are probably happy. I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter. Like the Minister of State, I am extremely passionate about the need for a new purpose-built multidisciplinary early intervention and respite care centre for children with complex additional needs on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Building Regulations (Fire Safety): Discussion (21 May 2024)

John Cummins: I assume the witnesses would dismiss the assertion that a pragmatic approach may be taken by one inspector and not by another. The problem with something not being black and white, notwithstanding the document asking for a pragmatic approach to be taken on an older building, is one fire inspector could be of a view to work with people to do this, but another fire inspector could say, "No, we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Apr 2024)

John Cummins: I join others in welcoming and acknowledging the families of the 48 victims of the Stardust nightclub fire in 1981, before I was born. To think it has taken this long to get to where we arrived last week in respect of the verdict and this week with regard to the State apology is unimaginable, as is the trauma those families have had to endure over such a protracted period. Our thoughts and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Apr 2024)

John Cummins: I welcome Senator O'Hara to the Chamber. I have not had the pleasure of speaking with him yet. There are probably a few disappointed Members of the House because I think he will challenge them for the title of best dressed Senator going forward. This is my third time calling for a debate on national aviation policy. An engagement with the Minister has still not been ordered. We need a...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

John Cummins: I have listened intently to the speeches on a very important topic made by my two colleagues on the other side of the House. In case there is any uncertainty, I can assure them that there is absolutely nobody on the Government side that is throwing in the towel on housing. Far from it. That is why we introduced a €5 billion budget for housing this year. That is why we have seen...

Seanad: Family Carers: Motion [Private Members] (31 Jan 2024)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to be in the House to listen to all of the contributions. All of those who took the time to speak on this very important motion did so in good faith on behalf of the near 500,000 carers we have in the country. The Government wants to continue to expand the supports we have in place for carers. It is very important for families that we ensure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Update on Affordable Homes, Public Lands, Strategic Planning and Projects: Land Development Agency (23 Jan 2024)

John Cummins: ...before the committee, albeit a bit later than we would have hoped. Certainly it is welcome they are here. That is not the case regarding the Peter McVerry Trust, which we were discussing prior to the arrival of our witnesses today. I welcome the fact that the LDA is here. I and my party fully support the LDA in its goal to expand social and affordable housing throughout the country....

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I commend our colleagues on introducing this motion because it gives us the opportunity to address local government. As someone who was in 2009, at the age of 21, elected to Waterford City Council, now Waterford City and County Council, I agree with Senator Fitzpatrick that it is an absolute honour to be a local authority member and be elected...

Seanad: Housing For All: Statements (7 Nov 2023)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Debates on housing in this Chamber are always welcome. I echo many of the comments made by the Minister with regard to the progress that has been made through both Housing for All and Rebuilding Ireland. If we look at where we came from in 2013, fewer than 5,000 homes were being built in this country. Last year, 30,000 homes were delivered....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2023)

John Cummins: I will raise one issue on the Order of Business, that is, the large scale sports infrastructure fund. As the Leader will know, it was introduced in 2018 to try to focus on those larger national governing bodies and regional projects. In my county of Waterford, the county board received €3.753 million in 2019 for the redevelopment of Walsh Park. Fantastic work has been done there in...

Seanad: Budget 2024 (Finance): Statements (10 Oct 2023)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, to the House. I congratulate her and her colleagues, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McGrath, and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, for their work, and all of their ministerial colleagues who have put a tremendous amount of work into budget 2024 over the last number of...

Seanad: Access to Third Level Places and Student Accommodation: Statements (4 Oct 2023)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State. I commend the Minister and the Minister of State for the work they have done in modernising the entry system for access third level education. The changes that have been by the National Tertiary Office for people who do not have to have the requisite leaving certificate points is a really welcome move. I know this is only the start of the process and that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Exempted Development) (No. 4) Regulations 2023: Discussion
Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023: Discussion
Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. XX) Regulations 2023: Discussion (11 Jul 2023)

John Cummins: However, the point still remains. If we are extending out by that period of time in order to have longer leases to justify undertaking significant works, that makes sense but it does not make sense that this applies to the whole host of approximately 20 or 30 structures which are included in the regulations. What I would like is that the structures included under SI 605 are narrowed to be...