Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no specific Estimate. I have given the most up-to-date figure we have, at just short of €600,000. In the period since we brought in this waiver, local authority funding has been increased substantially. The 31 local authorities have effectively worn this waiver as a business-cost-reduction measure. In preparation for the regulations, we have to assess whether we should do it again, and I believe coming into the summer months and through to the autumn is the right time to do that. These are not on a permanent basis but, as I stated earlier, we have introduced other measures relating to canopies, heaters and awnings, for which there is no fee or charge anymore, and that is a permanent change. I cannot say whether this waiver will continue indefinitely. The licence application process is really important to ensure that the issues of accessibility and design will be controlled by the local authority. It is not just a blanket waiver, although I know that is not what the Deputy is looking for.

In 2021, the then Minister of State with responsibility for planning, Deputy Peter Burke, issued Circular PL 06/2021 to local authorities specifically in respect of consideration of accessibility and universal design when assessing an application for tables and chairs under section 254. We will reissue an updated circular on foot of this discussion, because the points Deputy Gould, Senator Boyhan and others have raised are absolutely valid. While I have not seen this too often, there are also other matters relating to permanent clutter.

Some local authorities have carried out surveys, which I support, of signage, not relating to restaurants but rather to defunct signage, phone boxes and so on that are found throughout our streets in towns, villages and cities. That is something the local authorities should tackle in a systematic way to see what is needed and what is not and to remove what is not needed. There have been great improvements to the public realm in the Cathaoirleach's constituency, such as in Wicklow town. I could give many other examples, such as in Cork city, where the local authority has been prominent in providing for permanent pedestrianisation. The same is true of Fingal and my town, Malahide, where the change that has been made has allowed people to enjoy the public realm throughout the year. It is one of the reasons the URDF has been so important to improving the public realm. Only last week, I saw the completed works in Tralee, County Kerry, where fantastic work has transformed the centre of the town, and that funding was provided through the URDF. Another example is in Ennis, and I could go on.

Deputy Gould has just left the room but I might turn to the point about business costs. There are cost-of-business grants, which have been launched by the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and the Department of enterprise to further support businesses with the additional and rising costs. This is one measure that helps not just on a cost reduction basis but also for many smaller businesses, such as cafés, for which it provides additional capacity that can greatly increase their income. As well as reducing costs, it has meant some smaller businesses have been able to increase their capacity and, in some instances, double it, examples of which I have seen, by appropriately using outside spaces to provide tables for customers. Accessibility is crucial.

On the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown issue, it sounds as though Senator Boyhan is dealing with that. I am disappointed to hear he has not had a good hearing there, and if he requires any assistance, which I doubt he will, I will be interested to hear from him. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown did lead the way on active travel and was very prominent within that. I am a big supporter of active travel and safe routes to school. People need to be able to enjoy their public realm and the spaces in their towns, villages and cities.

I thank members for their contributions and support for these measures. We will move quickly to get the regulations signed into law such that the street furniture fees will be waived for the remainder of the year.