Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

During this crisis, I have taught my children how to cycle on roads and I have happily witnessed other families doing the same. However, the cars are coming back. Has the Department considered the extensive roll-out of temporary cycling infrastructure as has been done in other countries and cities, including Milan? Will this infrastructure be made permanent post the Covid pandemic, to allow children to cycle to school?

This Friday is the deadline for submissions to the urban regeneration development fund. This fund is vital to ensure that enough new houses will be constructed in the State. Considering the lockdown, housing delivery will stall in the coming months. Will this deadline be extended?

Throughout this pandemic, many local authorities have secured extra accommodation to house their homeless. We need to ensure the accommodation that has been secured will remain with the local authorities for as long as they are necessary. What measures have been taken to permanently secure those Airbnb short-term lettings that are currently being used to accommodate homeless people?

With the lack of almost all commercial activity in recent months, many businesses have been unable to pay business rates and many commercial tenants have been unable to pay their rents. In recent weeks, the Department has provided assurances that local authorities would be reimbursed to cover the shortfall in the receipt of rates on commercial premises. The payment of these funds after the date and the treatment of the rates waiver are still unclear for small and medium businesses. This uncertainty is putting both businesses and local authorities under duress in the planning of their recovery. I ask the Minister of State to outline the agreed plan and the advice to local authorities for businesses unable to pay their rates and tenants unable to pay their rent.

As we look around the Chamber, we are reminded of the Covid restrictions and how even the Dáil cannot meet in its full capacity. This is also the case in many regional council chambers. We need to ensure legislation is altered to allow council meetings to be held virtually. What provisions have been made to our local government officials to ensure they are able to carry out their roles in light of Covid-19 restrictions?

In previous Dáil sittings, I have mentioned that the rent freeze and eviction ban currently in place need to be extended by three months. The Department has alluded to reviewing this date. I ask the Minister of State to confirm that there will be an extension to the rent freeze and eviction ban?

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