Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Despite the proposed opposition to this section, it is essential to the operation of the Bill. As I articulated on previous amendments, it is technically essential to facilitate the leave process and is one of the core elements of the Bill.

I want to deal with some of the points made regarding local authorities. Everything I do as Minister of State is to try to enhance powers of local authorities. It simply misunderstands the genesis of the legislation to suggest that section 177B removes powers from local authorities, which it absolutely does not. It means that normal enforcement procedures under the planning Act now take place under the power of, and with adjudication by, the local authorities. Let us be very clear on that. The local authority has its full enforcement powers under the planning Act.

This comes at a time when the two-stage process has been restored in local authorities, SHD has been wound up, our Town Centre First implementation programme has been launched, with town regeneration officers going into each local authority, we are trying to tackle vacancy by bringing in a zoned land tax where local authorities are central in terms of adjudicating on the mapping process, and we are bringing derelict homes officers into each local authority by quarter 2 of this year. To suggest that we are watering down the powers of local authorities in any shape or form is incorrect. Indeed, given the conditionality that we are improving for the members to operate in those very difficult circumstances in local authorities, it is absolutely untrue. I remind Members that it is important to read the legislation properly before making the totally inaccurate suggestion that one section is watering down the powers of local authorities when it is not.