Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Senator Boyhan's final point, these structures are a double-edged sword in many respects because we also want to improve communications. Members of the Oireachtas use communications every day. People want technology to progress and we need the best available technology. The visual issue may be a concern for the Senator and some of my constituents. Before one has a surfeit of masts and antennae, we must first ensure proposed new infrastructure cannot be piggy-backed on existing masts. In other words, we should try to have four separate masts working from one item of physical infrastructure. Notwithstanding the commitment, if that is what it is, to increase the numbers of masts, new masts should only be erected if the companies in question can show it is not possible to piggy-back on the existing system. I expect the issue is one of security, for example, a logarithm or similar, and may not be a physical issue.

Years ago, people were afraid they would be fried by these masts or that a chicken placed beside one of them would roast overnight. These fears were not realised but they affected the capacity of communities to obtain proper reception for their mobile telephones. People in some parts of County Louth do not have good mobile telephone reception, for example, on the approach to Monasterboice. Every county has its problems. We must use best available technology but the companies must first show that the communications cannot be carried on existing infrastructure.

I recently received complaints from people in County Louth about a decision to reject an application for a new mast in County Meath. I was not familiar with the details of the case as it involved a different county. The complaints were made by residents of a particular part of County Louth which has very poor broadband coverage. From their perspective, the mast would have improved broadband and delivered a major benefit to their community. It would be useful in cases involving applications to increase the height or number of antennae to assess the community benefit as well as the benefits for commercial users and private companies. We should ask whether broadband coverage in the local area could be improved and, if so, whether it would be a good idea to do so.

In many cases, it is not necessary to install pointed antennae on top of a building because they can be hidden within a structure or constructed in a way that they do not protrude visually.

I apologise for arriving late. I understand the Minister of State was speaking about over-the-shop developments and planning when I arrived. This area offers significant scope to deliver material benefits to hundreds of households, particularly single people and couples who do not have children. It is not easy for families with young children to live above a shop because of the need to go up and down stairs and so forth.

Let us consider our town centres. My own town centre is practically empty at night. It is not that they are no-go zones but they are more like no-people zones. There is no one living over the shops; there is no one there. Anyone who has the wisdom and time can examine the 1901 census and see all the people and families who lived in the centre of towns and all the activities that went on there. All that is gone.

It makes sense to bring people back to the centre of towns. The physical infrastructure is in place, including water services, sewerage, public lighting and proximity to shops and services. There is a bonus in it. There is a downside and we are dealing with the associated problems too. I agree with Deputy Ó Broin's concerns over fire regulations. There should be mandatory standards. Property owners should have to get a certificate from the fire officer to say that what they are doing meets the requirements. I support making it easier for people to develop dwelling space over shops.

Certain areas near older transport hubs have potential. I am not suggesting it applies in every case but there are areas near railway and bus stations and so on. Often these are in older parts of cities and towns. Fast-track developments in such zones are important. We could zone areas where there is no habitation - these include abandoned shopping areas or areas that are no longer active commercially. I would welcome fast-track zoning for development in such areas.

We should consider what happens in the United Kingdom. I have looked at the website of the empty homes organisation in the United Kingdom. It has plenty of examples of abandoned bank buildings, shops, garage forecourts and so on that are now occupied by families and have been turned into apartments. There is constructive living and urban renewal. There are major benefits. That is why I welcome the advances from the Department with the assessment provisos that people are suggesting.

The lack of housing needs to be met with increased urgency from the Department. Whatever the initiatives are, I would welcome greater initiatives. Those responsible in the UK appoint empty homes officers in local authorities. I am not suggesting that is the destination the Department has in mind for Ireland, but it might be helpful to have people who could map the centre of the town, knock on each door and ascertain who owns each premises. If there is no one there, they could use the Louth solution, which is to slap a compulsory purchase order on the property if it meets the requirements. We need active on-the-ground officers, whose job it could be to report to the county manager and the Department on a quarterly basis. That is one of the things missing from our housing policy. It is not that we do not care, but the sense of urgency is not being transmitted. I believe that could change with the appointment of such officers. A website like that operating in the UK may be the type of constructive engagement we need to create the sense of urgency and crisis. I do not get the same sense when I walk around my town because I am still looking at premises. I welcome the support of Louth County Council. I looked at a place where we could have 16 people living. The problem is that is an old building and would require more money than usual to do up but I think we should do it up because it is in the centre of the town. The old Central Hotel in Drogheda is right in the centre of the town. There were 15 or 16 bedrooms in it. It is abandoned now and there is no one in it. We should get in there and turn it into habitable dwelling space.

Finally, I welcome in particular the engagement of organisations like the Peter McVerry Trust in tackling derelict buildings in cities. I welcome this work.