Latest news with #Taffe
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Local authorities to outline challenges to housing delivery plans
A body representing local authority managers will tell the Oireachtas Housing Committee today of the impediments that need addressing so councils can build more housing units. The City and County Managers Association will outline the need for investment funding, coordinated servicing of land by state bodies and increased staffing. Their position will be outlined in today's session of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage which will explore challenges facing the delivery of housing in Ireland. It is to hear that local authorities have delivered 24,000 social housing units since 2022, but that Government plans to increase this to 12,000 units per annum are "simply not feasible without urgent structural support." In his opening statement to the Committee, the Chair of the City and County Managers Association Eddie Taffe is expected to say local authorities have identified over 560 land banks for more than 21,000 homes. However, nearly 30% of the sites cannot proceed due to lack of adequate water, waste water and electricity services. Mr Taffe will advise that Uisce Éireann and the ESB must work with local authorities to address this. "Utility investment plans need to be fully aligned with local housing strategies. Uisce Éireann and the ESB must coordinate with local authorities to proactively service land in strategic growth areas. Mr Taffe will say that infrastructure and utilities must be delivered in "tandem with housing to avoid bottlenecks and to unlock development-ready land and accelerate delivery timelines." The association's chair is also expected to say that housing teams in local authorities are under severe strain as staffing levels have not kept pace with expanded responsibilities. It is anticipated that Mr Taffe will reiterate that local authorities remain fully committed to delivering housing at scale. But acknowledge that "to turn ambition into reality, we need the resources, infrastructure, and systems to support that effort." Today's meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Housing Committee, chaired by Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath Micheál Carrigy, is the first session of any committee to hear from external witnesses since before the General Election.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man with DUI history convicted of killing woman while driving drunk
The Brief Stephen James Taffe was sentenced to 17 years in confinement for first-degree vehicular homicide and other charges related to a fatal DUI incident during Memorial Day 2023 weekend. Taffe struck and killed Angelina Fuller while driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.284, over three times the legal limit, despite having an ignition interlock device due to a prior DUI conviction. Evidence presented at the sentencing showed Taffe tampered with the interlock device. The court heard emotional testimonies from Ms. Fuller's friends and family about the impact of her death, leading to the maximum sentence allowed by law. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Madison Caito and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia State Patrol and the Newton County Sheriff's Office. COVINGTON, Ga. - A man with a history of driving while intoxicated and a device built into his car meant to prevent him from doing it again has been convicted of killing a woman on the road. What we know Stephen James Taffe pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular homicide, DUI, driving while license suspended, following too close and open container last month for an incident that took place Memorial Day 2023 weekend. A witness called 911, reporting a man driving "extremely erratically." Taffe hit Angelina Fuller's car from behind, killing her. She was 34-years-old and left behind one daughter, according to her obituary. When Taffe was tested, his blood alcohol level was 0.284, three times the legal limit. During the investigation that ensued, it was also discovered that Taffe's car had an ignition interlock device installed inside. The device requires drivers to give a breath sample to test for alcohol before the car starts. It was put in his car after a prior DUI conviction. Dig deeper Investigators determined Taffe's interlock device had been tampered with, allowing him to drive while under the influence. What's next Taffe was sentenced to 17 years in confinement, the maximum sentence for his offenses. "When someone drives under the influence, it turns their car into a weapon that can kill. Any loss of life due to a DUI driver is unacceptable and tragic, but this case is especially egregious," said District Attorney Randy McGinley. "Nothing will undo the loss Ms. Fuller's family suffered. But I hope this sentence can send a message to every driver out there that driving under the influence is unacceptable." The Source
