Latest news with #VictorBoyhan
Agriland
3 days ago
- Health
- Agriland
‘Isolation and loneliness' a major issue in rural areas, Seanad told
Social isolation is 'a major concern in agricultural communities' and a 'national loneliness strategy' is now urgently needed, members of the Seanad have heard. The issue of loneliness was raised in the Seanad following a briefing by Samaritans Ireland to Oireachtas members. According to Samaritans Ireland, one of its team answers a call for help to its 24-hour telephone service 'almost every minute'. The national charity has called for the development of a national loneliness strategy led by the Taoiseach's office – which is being backed by Senator Victor Boyhan. Loneliness Senator Boyhan told the Seanad that during the briefing Samaritans Ireland highlighted to Oireachtas members about the number of people 'who call very late at night and who, after many months of ringing and maybe not even speaking, will eventually start to talk about their sense of isolation and rural loneliness'. 'People can live in a city and be lonely. Clearly, there are mental health issues associated with loneliness. 'It is all very well coming out with platitudes and talk but we can do something about this. We should seek to develop a national strategy on tackling loneliness, in collaboration with other stakeholders,' Senator Boyhan added. According to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, the issue of rural isolation, especially among the elderly, is 'complex' as it can undermine both physical and mental well-being of people. Minister Calleary said: 'Loneliness requires a wide range of responses, including health interventions, community policing, rural transport, tackling social exclusion, and addressing disadvantage. 'Our Rural Future is my department's whole-of-government strategy for rural development with actions to support rural communities, including addressing rural isolation. 'Within my department, this issue is also addressed by the sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities strategy. Both strategies are underpinned by funding through the rural investment programme and community development programme, the latter of which supports projects and schemes across both rural and urban communities'.
Agriland
4 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Revealed: How much RZLT have local authorities paid to date?
Local authorities have paid out more than €11 million to date in Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) payments to Revenue, according to new figures provided to Independent senator, Victor Boyhan. RZLT applies to land that is included on an annually revised map published by a local authority and that is not a residential property. The self-assessed annual tax is based on the valuation of a relevant site and is calculated at 3% of the market value of the relevant site. The figures were provided to Senator Boyhan by the County and City Management Association (CCMA) which is the representative body for the chief executives of Ireland's 31 local authorities. According to the senator the figures provided by CCMA 'are a revelation in themselves'. He added: 'Central government have empowered Revenue through legislation to pursue our councils to cough-up and pay RZLT, at a time when many councils are struggling financially to provide services and the administrative burden of preparing RZLT return simply does not make sense. 'It raises questions about the governments real commitment to divest more powers and functions form central government to local government'. RZLT According to the figures Dublin City Council has had the highest RZLT bill so far while Leitrim County Council has had the lowest. Source: CCMA Senator Boyhan told Agriland that it is his view that RZLT is 'penalising councils' but he can also understands why council chief executives might be slow to criticise government policy. Today (Friday, June 6) he called for all councils 'to be reimbursed for RZLT paid to date'. Senator Boyhan added: 'I know there are thousands of new homes at various stages in the pipeline either via An Bord Pleanála or councils that have been granted planning permission and have never been commenced and that's where the government needs to focus its energies on if wants to accelerate new housing delivery. 'I too know that An Bord Pleanála have a very large caseload of planning applications for new homes on their desk which they are currently unable to process due to staff shortages. 'So new home proposals are stuck in certain parts of the planning process, the promise rapid roll out of the New Planning Act just hasn't happened, despite the all the political promises.' He believes that its time for companies and organisations that hold full planning permission for housing development to 'use it or loss it' . 'That will flush out real housing opportunities and deliver new homes, that's the sort of proactive policy I want to see the government pursue rather than also targeting agricultural land in active use,' he added. The senator is also urging farm representative bodies to continue to campaign to encourage the government to 'exclude RZLT on land in active farm use and production'.
Agriland
08-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Senator Boyhan appointed to new Oireachtas Ag committee
Independent senator, Victor Boyhan, today (Thursday, May 8) confirmed that he has been appointed to the influential Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food. Senator Boyhan, who also served on the previous Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, believes there are a number of immediate challenges on the horizon for Irish agriculture as well as opportunities. One of these which is fundamental to the future of Irish agriculture is the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Senator Boyhan told Agriland that as he 'comes from a family steeped in agriculture' he understands 'the ambition farmers have for their families and their rural communities'. ' My father was a cattle dealer who was forced to leave home early, he instilled in me the strong connection to homestead, place and roots – his generation that never got opportunity to return from where they came. 'His countless stories and indeed many regrets are a constant reminder to me of lost opportunities of too many rural communities,' Senator Boyhan added. Oireachtas committee According to Senator Boyhan, he is excited about working with the new chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food, the Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-West, Aindrias Moynihan. He also paid tribute to the chair of the previous committee, former Fianna Fáil TD, Jackie Cahill, who Senator Boyhan said had the 'ability to summarise the problem and propose a solution' and was never afraid to challenge the status quo, if necessary. According to the senator, one of the major challenges now facing Irish agriculture 'will be to consolidate and find new markets for Irish agri-exports in light of tariffs that may be pursued by the United States'. 'Clearly negotiation and a resolution to this impasse is in everyone's interest. 'I expect this issue will be a top priority for the new committee,' he added. Senator Boyhan said one of his key objectives, once the new Oireachtas committee is up and running, will be will be to 'give a voice to farmers, producers and their representative organisations'. 'The committee has access to the minister for agriculture, the ministers of state and his departmental officials. 'Holding the minister and his department to account on policy performance and governance oversight is for me the most important aspect of my work on the committee, I look forward to working collaboratively and respectfully with all stakeholders to advance the best interests of the agricultural sector,' he added.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
An Bord Pleanála failure to decide on applications delays up to 6,000 apartments
Planning for some 6,000 'fast-track' apartments has stalled for more than three years, delaying construction after An Bord Pleanála failed to decide on 18 applications from 2021 and 2022. New figures show the planning body has still not overcome the legacy of the 2022 governance scandal that halted decision making on key files. These included strategic housing development (SHD) plans, a 2017 process that was supposed to accelerate apartment building. Applications went directly to An Bord Pleanála, bypassing local councils in contentious measures that later led to dozens of High Court cases. The planning board paid out €1.43 million in fines for not processing 143 SHD applications on time. But it has since made 'significant progress' clearing a large backlog of SHD and other planning files that accumulate in 2022 and 2023. READ MORE But records show 18 SHD schemes in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Wicklow and Wexford are 'not decided', years after the window for applications closed in early 2022. One further Co Offaly case 'cannot be decided' as it is subject to a legal order. Independent Senator Victor Boyhan , who pressed An Bord Pleanála to publish the data, said developers made big gains from flaws in the SHD regime. 'The SHD process, hailed as an opportunity by the Government, failed to deliver housing units at scale. In fact, the majority of permissions granted were not built out. The developers gained in terms of site value as a result of An Bord Pleanála approval,' said Mr Boyhan. 'I am in favour of a use-it-or-lose-it [rule in] these so-called fast track SHD permissions, after a period of three years. Priority was given by the Government through the SHD to deliver new homes. It was never intended to aid and enhance site values, which is what has happened.' Asked about SHD delays, An Bord Pleanála replied: 'Legal complications arose in 2022 due to the fact that a number of SHD applications were lodged where subsequently a new city or county development plan came into force.' A 2024 Supreme Court ruling 'provided some clarity on this matter', prompting the planning board to establish a special team of inspectors to deal with outstanding SHD files. 'Since January 2024, the board have disposed of 36 cases and there are a further four cases at board level, due to be decided shortly. It is not possible at this juncture to provide a specific time frame for each outstanding case. 'However, there are a further 15 cases currently on hand and it is envisaged that these will be decided by the end of the [second quarter of the year],' it said. Another 16 SHD cases have been sent back to the board after litigation. 'These cases will require further consideration by the board and new inspectors' reports will need to be prepared to take account of the significant changes in planning and development law, county and city plans and ministerial guidelines that have occurred in the intervening time.' Citing the need to balance priorities, the agency said it expects to dispose of those cases by the end of 2025. An Bord Pleanála was rocked by turmoil in 2022 when then deputy chairman Paul Hyde resigned after questions were raised about his work. He received a suspended prison sentence in 2023 for failing to declare certain personal interests. The disruption prompted a breakdown in board decision-making on big housing and infrastructure files. New laws followed to overhaul An Bord Pleanála and planning. The restructured institution will work under a new name, An Coimisiún Pleanála.
