Results 3,221-3,240 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome this increase in the vacant homes tax. When we discussed this with the Minister’s predecessor, Deputy Donohoe, I made the point that the introduction of a vacant homes tax was very positive because it is the nudge that is needed sometimes. I understand it is not designed to be a revenue generator but to push people to do something with the home; either to sell it or...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is positive. Last year, I was told it would be kept under review and they would see how it works out. The Minister is saying that we do not know what will come in from it until later this month and when the returns are made at the start of January, but we should keep it under review, see how it is working and increase it if necessary. Introducing a vacant homes tax, and essentially...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I was happy to see the vacant homes tax introduced for the first time last year, although at too low a rate. I was very pleased to see it increase to where we thought it should be placed last year. I was also happy to see the zoned land tax introduced last year as a land activation measure. Its aim is to stimulate the use of that land, or to have it sold on to somebody who is going to use...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister for the clarification. I have a couple more questions on it. Could the Minister give me the dates again? A final map will be produced in February 2024; is that correct?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: A landowner will have until what date to contest that zoning?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: May 2024?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Where local authorities are asked to reconsider the zoning, for whatever reason the landowner may put forward, is that evaluation by the local authority an executive function, or is it the councillors that make the decision on it?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: So it would have to be advertised as a variation to a development plan.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. When a development plan is changed, it is generally accompanied by a chief executive's report and recommendation, and possibly, the Planning Regulator etc. Will there be criteria set out as to how to make a judgment on whether this land should be dezoned? A local authority is obliged to have enough land zoned to meet the core strategy and the needs of the population. We have all been...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is there not?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: A local authority is obliged to have enough land zoned to meet the requirements of its core strategy. If land is being de-zoned, how do we ensure that local authorities do not go below the threshold needed to meet the requirements of their core strategies?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate that this is complex. In order to get it right, the Minister has to take his time. There is no doubt about that. I would be concerned that we will end up with a request for de-zoning and that we zone other land. One in five or one in six land parcels that are zoned proceed to development within the lifespan of a development plan. There is no guarantee that land being zoned...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I suggest that such land should not be subject to zoned land tax because it is not developable and probably should not have been zoned in the first place.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: We should address how we will not end up with someone looking for land to be de-zoned knowing that when we come back to do a county development plan in ten years' time and we need to vary the current plan, he or she will seek to get it zoned then and get a better value uplift in it. If one is out, one is out and we will develop the town in another direction.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding any Department-led initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of bus drivers to help achieve climate objectives related to the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 296. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding proposed changes for January 2024 in the way the Revenue Commissioners treat general medical services income within general practitioner partnerships; if he is concerned that this will impact the number of GPs operating; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of GPs in how this change is to be administered; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 456. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the management of the construction site for a new temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied); if the site manager for this project can meet with school management to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47453/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Priorities (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 1209. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the 109 recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism's final Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47977/23]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: While we are on this subject matter, will the Minister elaborate on the minimum wage increase, which we have to take into account here, and on the reduction in the USC band? As I recall on budget day, it was estimated that a person earning around €46,000 a year would be better off about by €2,000 per year. Will the Minister include that in his responses?