Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—recognising the importance of well-planned and well-designed residential development, commends the Government's commitment to promoting sustainable communities which:

—offer choice to householders across a wide range of accommodation options;

—embody high quality urban design which is also environmentally progressive and energy efficient; and

—provide a wide range of services and amenities for the community, and are focused on locations that capitalise on recent and planned transport improvements as set out in Transport 21, published recently by the Government;

—notes that a Law Reform Commission working group is currently examining a range of legal issues in relation to the importance of effective management arrangements for multi-unit structures and that the government will consider recommendations of the group's final report including the need for any new legislation to regulate management companies;

—notes that the supply of housing has been greatly increased since 1997 and that almost 77,000 units were completed in 2004 which was double the level achieved in 1997 and that 21% of housing units built in 2004 were apartments and that apartments constituted 68% of the housing units built in Dublin City in 2004, and 42% of the units built in the Dublin area;

—recalls the provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2000 whereby planning authorities must initiate the taking in charge of housing estates when requested to do by the majority of the residents who are qualified electors, or by the developer;

—notes the strong provisions in the Planning and Development Act 2000 which require the completion of estates by developers, including the provision whereby the developer can be required to give adequate security for the completion of the development and the strengthened provisions in relation to enforcement of planning conditions;

—notes that the Planning and Development Act 2000 recognised that management companies may be required, in appropriate circumstances, to provide for the maintenance of multi-unit structures, for the communal benefit of all residents;

—notes that in accordance with long-standing policy the application of conditions to a planning permission should in all cases be necessary, relevant to planning and to the development, enforceable, precise and reasonable, and that planning authorities must operate in accordance with these principles; and

—welcomes the fact that as a result of the increase of 6% in the Exchequer contribution to the Local Government fund, as provided for in the Abridged Estimates published last week, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will be in a position to build on the Government's strong record of strengthening the financial position of local authorities thereby empowering them to continue to improve the quality and range of services they provide to all their customers."

I wish to share time with Deputy O'Connor.

See this speech in context