Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Just to follow up on that point, last night, I was at a community meeting in a newer part of my constituency where there are higher densities. The whole area was planned on the idea that the quid pro quofor higher densities would be better facilities. Despite this, 15 or 20 years since the communities were originally built, the area still does not have proper community facilities. The residents were having a row with the city council last night and asking whether it would not open the public toilets that had been built and provided for in the public park. The city council was saying no because they might get vandalised. The position of the local authority was that it is better to have pristine public toilets that no one can access than to open them up, leaving them at risk of vandalism. This is typical of many areas that have been developed, in that huge amounts of development levies were paid for infrastructure. Some infrastructure has been delivered but there are very significant deficits, which ultimately leads to pressures in the community. We have a large number of younger people who are all growing up and becoming teenagers at the same time and we have all of the issues associated with not having proper youth facilities in the area. That leads to the phenomenon we have seen over the years, a certain amount of flight. Those families who can afford to move out of the higher-density housing and buy housing in a lower-density traditional suburban estate do so and those who cannot, do not.

We can see that happening very clearly. What needs to be done if we are going to achieve the compact growth that everyone is talking about? What must be done to make that work? Everything I can see, and I talk to colleagues who agree, suggests a two-tier situation involving compact growth for some people in certain areas but continued sprawl and car dependency in other areas. People who are able to afford to buy into that do so and those who cannot, do not. I ask the Irish Planning Institute representatives to respond to that question first. What are we missing now that needs to be done?