David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I am not a member of the committee but I am concerned about the proposed Part 6 of the Bill and the urban areas being proposed. It would have been better if it was brought forward as a stand-alone Bill because at least then there would be an opportunity to properly tease out what it all means and the implications of the proposed Part 6 for local authorities. It would have provided the opportunity to consult with the stakeholders and also to have a consultation process. I am a bit concerned it has been brought forward as an amendment to a Bill that deals with something else. It will cause concern for councils across the State that will be affected by it.

I have a number of questions that flow from the amendments because there are a number of things that are not clear. It states the urban area committee shall appoint members from local authorities - six in total. I imagine if there are two local authorities, it would be three from each. What does it mean by "appoint"? Are they elected by the members of the local authorities? How are they appointed? How does it work? What is the relationship with the local authority when they are appointed or elected? It also states the people who are appointed should have experience and expertise in the provision of transport and housing and the development of infrastructure, business and trade. Who determines that? Who determines what expertise is and what experience is? Will it be more defined?

I have a concern about the making and amending of local area plans. Perhaps I am wrong and the Minister of State might clarify it for me. It seems to suggest that, once established, these urban committees can formulate their own separate local area plans that could supersede local area plans already agreed by local authorities. It would be very problematic and cause a lot of tension and difficulties for local councils and their CEOs. How it will work needs to be properly explained. It also refers to "a local area plan prepared by a planning authority insofar as it applies to the urban area in respect of which that urban area committee was appointed." It causes me concern.

Another area of concern is in the area of development plans. It seems to suggest the urban committee could amend development plans that are crafted democratically by local councils. How will that work out? I am struggling to come up with an example of how it will work. Waterford-Kilkenny is a good example. I think the Minister of State would agree the population of the metropolitan area of Waterford city is 45,000. If this was put in place for the Waterford-Kilkenny area so that it included the part of Kilkenny known as Ferrybank, the urban area committee would then cover an area with a population of 50,000, the vast majority of which would be in Waterford. If there were three representatives from Waterford and three from Kilkenny it would not be seen as very democratic and would be highly problematic.

What consultation has there been with the CEOs of any of these councils? What consultation has there been with the elected members? I contacted a number of elected members from all parties from Waterford and none of them was aware of the amendments or what it would mean. What engagement was there with the representative bodies of local councillors?

For all those reasons, notwithstanding whether or not there is logic to what the Minister of State is proposing, although I have some concerns about it, it should be brought forward as a stand-alone Bill. My suggestion is to withdraw the amendments, come back with a stand-alone Bill and let us have the full consultation and Second Stage contributions. If the Minister of State feels there is logic to it, it can be teased out and people can put forward legitimate and proper amendments. Tabling amendments in this way to a Bill that has already passed Second Stage is not the way to deal with a very complicated and contentious issue. It will be treated with suspicion for that reason. I ask the Minister of State to withdraw the amendments and come back with a stand-alone Bill.