Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses to the Oireachtas to discuss planning legislation, one of the most important issues for councillors, Deputies, Senators and society as a whole. As one of the witnesses stated, planning is a broad church and views about it differ in rural and urban areas. There are guidelines in place on good planning.

Given the serious housing shortage, I hope the Bill will result in housing being built faster and in the right places at the right time.

As stated by one of the councillors, it is important that we do not take a broad brush approach to the Bill and that we bear in mind the submissions made.

Councillor Brophy alluded to the removal of the word "affordability" from the Bill, which issue was also raised during previous hearings. It is important that this issue be addressed, particularly in the context of the increase in house prices in the Dublin area. I understand the reasoning behind the removal of the word "affordability" was to make it more affordable for developers to build houses. However, if affordability continues to be an issue in terms of ever increasing housing waiting lists, we need to discuss it further. I have taken on board the point that permissions should continue to be valid for five years.

The voluntary housing agencies were mentioned. There is in place legislation governing these agencies. However, it was mentioned that this legislation needed to be strengthened in the context of how voluntary housing agencies worked in concert with the local authorities. I have taken on board this point also.

On having additional flexibility in regard to location, this also relates to the broad brush approach. As Ms Guckian said, some areas may not need social housing, while others may need more. There is much discussion of the issue of devolution of functions to local government. This is one area that could be considered in that context.

In regard to housing need, there are 15 counties that do not require development. In Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and surrounding areas huge development is needed, while in other counties some development is needed. There are some counties in which there are many vacant properties. How in the delegates' view should this issue be addressed? While in Dublin generally more than 2,000 acres of land has been rezoned, there is still a shortage of housing. In Dublin city only 1,200 planning permissions have been granted.

Ms Guckian referred to head 5 of the Bill which deals with vacant sites and populations. There was a contradiction between what two of the representatives had to say in that Ms Guckian said a population threshold of 3,000 could leave many places and counties exempt from development, while the representative of the Local Authority Members'Association, LAMA, said a 5,000 threshold was acceptable. We will have to tease out that issue further. The point about provision in the legislation for a 3,000 threshold is valid, as is the one about land zoned for agricultural use and where, because of historical use, it fits into all of this.

The issue of affordability, again, is one for the Government, the banks and councils in working together. One cannot expect that just because the word "affordable" has been removed from the Bill, this will result in housing being more affordable. The availability of funding is another important issue, on which we have heard the delegates' views loud and clear.

The issue of land use and value and how it is calculated was raised by one of the delegates from Cork County Council. I think it was Mr. Justice Clarke who set out how calculations were to be made. There is a need for further discussion of the issue of values, land use and the calculation made by Mr. Justice Clarke, including whether we need to designate in recommendations how calculations should be arrived at or if this should be determined on the day by each local authority. This is a matter that caused great difficulty in the court case, leading to Mr. Justice Clarke's determination in that regard.