Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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360. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the rules under level 5 restrictions for a house that has been partially built and has no roof and is therefore exposed to the elements; if the roof can be completed under level 5 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13163/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government announced that additional public health restrictions would apply under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 on 6 January 2021. The additional restrictions required all construction activity to cease from 6pm on Friday 8 January, with a number of exceptions. These measures are set out in The Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 (as amended).

With regard to private housing development, the Regulations provide that housing and construction works ongoing on 8 January could continue where the works required to render the property capable of occupation were scheduled for completion by 31 January 2021. The Regulations also provide for the supply and delivery of essential or emergency maintenance and repair services to businesses and homes (including electrical, gas, oil, plumbing, glazing and roofing services) on an emergency call-out basis.

On 23 February, the Government announced that the current level 5 restrictions will remain in place until 5 April 2021, when the easing of restrictions relating to construction will be considered.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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361. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a company (details supplied) with annual local authority rates bill in excess of €100,000 can be granted a waiver on fees in view of Covid-19 related pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13320/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Given the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the associated public health restrictions, and in order to continue supporting ratepayers and local authorities, the Government recently announced that the commercial rates waiver put in place for the first quarter of 2021 will be extended to the second quarter; it applies to businesses most seriously affected by ongoing restrictions.

The 2021 waiver is necessarily more targeted than was the case with the nine month waiver in 2020. Automatic eligibility is extended to retail, hospitality including hotels, pubs and restaurants, leisure and entertainment, personal services such as hairdressers and barbers, health services and various other categories. In recognition of the fact that there may be ratepayers excluded from the waiver that were severely impacted by the pandemic, it includes a provision that ratepayers not automatically eligible may engage directly with their local authorities, to demonstrate serious financial impact. In such circumstances certain ratepayers, that are not automatically eligible, may also qualify. These applications will be reviewed by local authorities on a case by case basis.