John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am accepting amendment No. 7, as I indicated to Deputy Cassells on Committee Stage, which allows the Minister to make ministerial regulations on local authority vacancy abatement schemes. Amendment No. 8, as pointed out by Deputy Casey, has an unintended consequence, as currently drafted. It would mean deletion of section 14(1)(c), which is an important subsection that provides that a scheme for a waiver of rates may be made to support the implementation of the local area plan. I agree that Deputy O'Brien's amendment has merit, and having discussed it prior to Report Stage with officials in the Department, section 14(5) includes a broad regulation-making power for purposes relevant to the Bill. I will consider whether that provision can be relied upon to ensure a public consultation such as that envisaged by this amendment can be held. While I agree that the amendment has merit, it cannot be accepted in its current form. Failing that, section 14(5) would allow me to make the ministerial order. I commit to inserting an amendment along the same lines, but subject to ensuring that no provisions are inadvertently deleted in the next appropriate Bill to be brought forward by the Department.

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