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

I thank all the members for their input. I will be as brief as possible and any items I do not get to I can return to. I thank members for their support for these measures. They are practical and they will help. There are other issues that have rightly been raised but I will deal with specific questions about the extension of the two regulations.

The extension of the takeaway provision and the waiver is until the end of 2021. Senator Fitzpatrick has rightly said we are not waiving the process, just the fee. It means the appropriateness of a set of tables and chairs or awnings would be a matter, under the licensing arrangement, for each local authority to decide upon. I had asked them about this and I will be issuing a circular next week to every local authority. I want them to be expeditious in their turnaround of applications as we need to get ready for the summer and the reopening of outdoor dining. I will be saying clearly to all 31 local authorities that this should be treated as a matter of priority but it is only in the areas where they are appropriate.

Access for those who have mobility impairments, disabilities and are blind has rightly been raised. Senator Seery Kearney mentioned that at the start. If it is not appropriate for a table and chairs to be put in a certain area, that permission will still not be given. We have looked at this in detail. I mention awnings and the question about protected structures. That will bring the awnings to be a licensed activity. If it is deemed that awnings are not appropriate for a certain type of building, the local authority will still be able to decide on that. I know our heritage towns and some local authorities like Fingal County Council are already looking at a uniform nature of certain awnings in different towns and villages. I would encourage that to be done. Our local authorities have quite a deal of autonomy. Already some of them have moved with the installation of parklets as well. That happened last summer.

I mention disabled parking. I am certain Deputy Gould has raised it with Cork City Council and I have seen other local authorities that have dealt with it in a different way. Disabled parking bays cannot be removed in some local authorities and the same goes for the new age-friendly parking, which I welcome in my local authority area of Fingal. It is question of what is appropriate and where it is appropriate for these to be taken in.

This is a different summer. We all recognise the fact that most of the businesses in our hospitality sector, in particular our restaurants, cafés or gourmet pubs, are family-run businesses. Thankfully, a lot of them have been here for generations. Any help that can be given to help them trade more easily should be given. We have had in excess of €900 million so far in rates waivers and there will be up to €1.2 billion in such waivers by the time they are finished. Let us remember we have given a 100% rebate to local authorities, even those local authorities that did not collect 100% of rates. Local authority budgets have never been bigger. There are vacancies in local authorities I want to see filled. I believe in local government and it has performed incredibly well throughout the pandemic. It has been the tip of the spear of the national response on the ground.

Litter is something I am actively looking at with regard to additional crews and the system of cleaning. I saw the Phoenix Park, St. Anne's Park, Malahide Castle and all of our beauty spots last weekend. A small number of people are engaging in disgusting behaviour and showing no responsibility. They should take their litter home with them. Even if the bins are full, they should not be packing them up. Some of the stuff you see is awful and it is our staff who end up cleaning the mess of other people. I ask people in general to be much more responsible. I will be asking the local authorities to look at their cleaning schedules and the provision of temporary bins, particularly as we come into the summer months and the two bank holiday weekends in May and June when we know we tend to have more people congregating.

This is an opportunity for us, and we are doing it as a Government and some local authorities are doing it to great effect, to reimagine our public spaces and realms. It is an opportunity to look at our roads and streets in a different way, to make them friendly for pedestrians, cyclists and families, to start moving the car away from the middle of our towns and villages, and to let people get back into those open spaces.

I know the Cathaoirleach has a lot of work on this morning. If there is anything I have missed I apologise and we will come back on any specific queries. I will be moving these motions tomorrow in the Dáil now that I have briefed the committee.