Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These are amendments to the existing tables in Schedule 1, which list the functions of the príomh chomhairleoir and the director general.

Amendment No. 96 deletes section 74(1)(b) as a function of the príomh chomhairleoir. Section 74 provides that a local authority may confer a civic honour, such as admission to honorary freedom of its area, on distinguished persons. This is a reserved function and ultimately a matter for the full council. This came up in the Dáil on Report Stage. Following review, and agreement with Members during Dáil Report Stage, I am removing section 74(1)(b) as a function of príomh chomhairleoir and vesting this function in the mayor. This amendment will allow the mayor to take on the majority of functions of the cathaoirleach, outside the chamber, including civic functions such as proposing a person for a civic honour. That was always the intention of the Bill and we are just amending that.

Amendments No. 97 to 125, inclusive, relate to Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Bill and include both Government and Opposition amendments. I propose to first address the Government amendments first.

Government amendments Nos. 97, 102, 108, 122 and 126 deal with local authority functions in relation to finance. These functions include actions connected with rates, waiving all or a portion of charges, the collection of moneys and requirements for prompt payment of account. These amendments ensure that these remain with the DG as part of the accounting officer role.

Government amendments Nos. 101 and 111 assign duties relating to the protection of wildlife and the control of some activities that may adversely affect wildlife.

Government amendments Nos. 127 to 129, inclusive, 130, 132, 134 and 135 are regulations which aim to protect wildlife habitats and protect threatened species.

Government amendment No. 99 deals with the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964. This Act gives local authorities powers to safeguard life by carrying out or causing to have carried out works on dangerous places, such as deep water-filled quarries. It also provides effective procedures for dealing with dangerous buildings.

Government amendment No. 103 deals with the Derelict Sites Act 1990. This imposes a duty upon the local authority to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land in their functional area does not become or remain neglected or unsightly.

Government amendment No. 121 deals with the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 and the local authority’s functions for dealing with vacant sites in its area. These include establishing and maintaining a register of vacant sites, establishing the market value of a site, appointing authorised persons to assist, applying and administering a vacant site levy and prosecuting offences.

Government amendment No. 109 allows for an additional provision, section 101, to be included along with those already specified under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Part V of the Act contains housing supply provisions, and a number of sections from this Part are already in the Schedule. This amendment ensures consistency across the performance of functions by relevant planning authorities and housing authorities. By way of note, the preparation of the housing strategy under section 194 of the Act is a matter for the mayor. That is hugely important.

I refer to protected disclosures. Government amendments Nos. 120 and 131 relate to functions associated with the framework of statutory protections for whistleblowers in Ireland set out in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and associated regulations.

Government amendment No. 115 deals with the Water Services Act 2007 because certain water functions under that Act do not transfer to Irish Water and remain with local authorities. These functions relate to storm water sewers, the rural water sector and domestic wastewater treatment systems.

Government amendment No. 133 and part of amendment No. 128 relate to regulations for housing loans. These provide for loan finance by local authorities to eligible first-time buyers for the acquisition of new or existing houses and for the construction of houses.

Lastly, Government amendment No. 124 is a technical amendment and simply corrects the order in which legislative codes currently appear in Schedule 1, Part 2 for consistency.