Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. Housing in rural Ireland has always been a major difficulty. All politicians know that there are issues with planning. What we find in west Cork is that young people are being refused planning permission in rural areas because of considerations relating to the scenic landscape and this, that and the other. It seems to us that the planning policies that are being put before councils today are very anti-rural in nature. They are pushing people from their farms and rural communities into bigger towns and villages, which is very unfair. However, the vacant and derelict properties grant is great. It is a step in the direction by all manner of means. With the price of building having gone the way it has, it still takes quite a lot of money between a person getting a €50,000 grant and the work costing perhaps €150,000 to €200,000. The idea of the credit unions giving bridging loans is certainly a way forward here. They should be allowed to compete in the bigger mortgage market. They have not been. I agree that there need to be further tax incentives also. Perhaps the witnesses can explain it, but I cannot understand why the banks are not giving loans or mortgages to people who are trying to do up vacant properties. Maybe they will answer that in a minute. I will try to finish here.

I understand that there are 12,000 vacant or derelict farmhouses. I do not think that includes farmhouses that are being used for other purposes. We all know farmers who use farmhouses to house cattle, for example. Perhaps they were too quick off the ball to put the cow and the calf in instead of saving it to use for humans, unfortunately. I still think some of those farmhouses could be restored. They might have part of a roof missing or a lot of inside damage, but they certainly could be restored. We have got to look at housing from every angle. As I said earlier, there are people who are finding it almost impossible to get planning permission in my community. They are pulling the hair out of their heads. I presume it is the same everywhere else. Young people in farming and rural communities are trying to get planning permission. As I have said many times, I know of one woman who has spent €10,000 trying to get planning permission. Her father came to me when she failed to get planning permission, and I told him he should have come to me a month before that. He said that after spending €10,000 they thought they had done everything to perfection, the way everybody wanted them to. They had paid for every report required. Imagine spending €10,000 and being refused planning permission. That tells a story of the challenges being presented to the young people of rural Ireland who are trying to get planning permission.

The Rural Independent Group brought forward a motion last week in the Dáil in respect of easing, not dismantling, the restrictions on planning. We have also said that the Government must also look at timber housing. I have seen it used quite successfully. At home on the farm, a couple might get married first, move into a timber house and move on from there when they get a few bob put together. That is an approach that we seem to have discouraged here. I hope that perhaps there can be a change in mindset on that. There is also the help-to-buy scheme. Perhaps the witnesses have some thoughts on that. I think the scheme should also include the renovation or purchase of a derelict property. I ask the witnesses to give us more of an idea of what the banks' thinking is in not participating so far.