Results 1-20 of 498 for speaker:Joe Cooney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I thank the witnesses for coming in and giving us an update. We are all well aware that probably every village and town has derelict and vacant buildings. What can be done to speed up CPOs? It takes so long from day one until it a CPO is got over the line, between registering the property with the Land Registry, CPO-ing it and going through the process. Can something be done to improve...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I am directing it to whoever would deal with the CPO side of things. I did not get exactly who is dealing with CPOs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I agree that there is a long story and that people should have an opportunity. However, in some cases they are given too much time and it just drags out the whole process, unfortunately. There needs to be a time limit to make the process shorter and see if we can move more swiftly, which, in fairness, a lot of local authorities are trying to do.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: Taking over the whole building simplifies things.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I would like an update on the derelict property tax that has been proposed and was mentioned in the budget. What would be the situation for derelict buildings in farmyards in rural parts? What is the situation there, and what are the witnesses' views on the derelict property tax?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: If a local authority identified a derelict house in the countryside, such as an old farmhouse that may not be in use any more, what would be the situation there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: Everyone would be delighted if the focus was on towns and villages. That needs to be clarified. There is concern in rural areas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: My second point is about protected structures in urban areas. What are the views of the witnesses on funding to help people who own protected structures with the costs and pressures associated with them? It is a serious issue for some towns and cities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I see where Ms Murphy is coming from but, unfortunately, barriers are put in front of these owners. These barriers cost big money and owners are leaving the buildings lying idle, which is a pity. I do not know what could help, possibly through more grants and funding. There are some great grants available, but I would like more thought put in to this to see where the owners of these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: The other issue in rural villages and towns is a lack of infrastructure. Some of these buildings are lying idle, with no proper infrastructure to connect them to. That is also a hold-up in the system. What is the solution to that? That is probably outside the remit of the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: I know that but it is a big issue, especially in rural parts of the country.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: That is vitally important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Vacancy and Dereliction: Discussion (21 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: Is there something that could simplify the process of having residential units over commercial property? A lot of residential units are tied up in towns and it is a big problem. Is it something that can resolve that? I do not know who wishes to answer.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: 226. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the progress of a development at a secondary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56102/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: 249. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider removing the working family payment from consideration on social housing income thresholds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56099/25]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: 250. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if local authorities will be permitted to exercise limited discretion when the income threshold for social housing is marginally exceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56101/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cost of Living Issues (16 Oct 2025)

Joe Cooney: 260. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to increase all income thresholds annually in line with increases in the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56100/25]