Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Gilmore, on bringing forward the Bill. It proposes practical changes to legislation which will alleviate an enormous amount of frustration and protect consumers.

Buying a house is the biggest investment most of us ever make. A legislative change such as this would deal with complaints of which many of us are conscious from canvassing in Meath and Kildare where there has been a great deal of expansion. The Minister and I represent County Wicklow, which has seen its share of very rapid growth in towns such as Blessington, Arklow, Greystones and Bray. These towns have experienced rapid growth and new houses being built, sometimes without the proper infrastructural amenities. Sometimes there are defective roads, no roads and problems with water and sewerage schemes. Very often the basic infrastructure does not exist to accommodate new housing developments and consequent growth in population.

There is a particular characteristic among a number of developers — it does not apply to all developers — many of whom are serial offenders. There is a pattern of developing estates, companies changing from the original developer, who then transfers to a building company, who transfers to someone else, and each time it is more difficult for individual householders to get developers to comply with planning permission conditions. The difference between the initial point of contact between potential house buyers and the people developing the housing scheme is quite stark. There are advertisements, including glossy brochures and flags, where estates often look much better than they are in reality. At the end of the experience, individual householders are left trying to have footpaths and lighting put in place. When all the razzmatazz is over, one is left with a mobile phone number, and a developer who very often does not answer the phone. There is a great deal of chasing of phantom developers, which is a frustrating experience for householders trying to get their estates completed.

We all have our stories. I would like to think the Minister is aware of a small estate in Tinahely called The Tyndles. The last time I visited the estate, there were major problems, including no public lighting and footpaths that had not been completed. The hazards in the estate, particularly at night, make it extremely difficult for people to manoeuvre in the dark because of a lack of public lighting. These are mainly people who have moved to the area from Dublin. They like Wicklow and want to settle down there. Some of them are retired and some have young families. They put up with the commuting experience in order to rear their family or retire to a quiet place like Tinahely, which is a very attractive village in south Wicklow. These people are left with cavities outside their homes and no public lighting, which is unacceptable. When people chase up mobile phone numbers, promises are made which never appear to be kept. Very often local authorities and builders tend to blame each other and it is very difficult for people stumbling around in the dark to find out what is going on, how it will be sorted and, more important, when it will be sorted. Each week more promises are made, and each week that follows, there is more disappointment.

I can give many examples in County Wicklow where the situation is not as stark as it is in The Tyndles. There are larger housing estates in Bray and Greystones, along the Southern Cross, where people have tried to get the basic conditions complied with. These include landscaping and open spaces being brought up to standard, as required under the planning permission conditions. This is not just an aesthetic matter. People are conscious of the fact that because an open area has not been upgraded and landscaped, there are brambles and it is overgrown, it becomes a haven for anti-social behaviour. There are complaints about the dangers that can accrue from discarded hypodermic needles and anti-social activities. This irritates people who move into a nice estate and end up in a situation which is not of their making and makes them feel powerless.

The role of local authorities needs to be beefed up. Someone may be given the task of dealing with developers but they do not have the clout to threaten them with action if the completion works are not carried out. I have often been in contact with residents who have found the local authority less than effective and the developer less then accommodating. I have advised residents to find out where the showhouse is open in the developer's next port of call, to get in their cars and picket the showhouse. This is the most effective course of action to take. Nowadays one does not even have to find the showhouse, one just has to advise the developer that the picket will be on the showhouse if he does not get his act together. The expression often used to me when I meet residents is "Fianna Fáil is the developers' friend", which is not said without reason.

If the Government accepts the Bill, it will be a step forward and an indication of good intent. While the cost of housing is very high, generally speaking, the standard has improved immensely compared to the bad old days of the 1960s and the 1970s. However, the completion of estates is not being dealt with properly given the amount of investment people are making. The Bill shifts the onus on to developers, which is a neat solution to many people's frustration. It alters the relationship with regard to a developer receiving planning permission without having his track record taken into account. This will put the responsibility on developers. From that point of view, it is important legislation which, I hope, the Minister and the Government will take on board. The Minister now has an opportunity to make his name by dealing with these serial offenders who are causing so much grief and getting away with so much.

See this speech in context