Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

There may be some short-term gain for the Government in taking such a populist approach but it is poor policy in the long term. The Government, however, seems unconcerned about the long-term consequences.

It is incredible that under the 2002 Act, a local authority can take land in any area under its jurisdiction in lieu of the provision of 20% of units in a new development for social and affordable housing. In County Galway, for example, the developers of new schemes in Oranmore and other places have reached agreement with the local authority to provide land in places such as Headford or Glenamaddy, 30, 40 or 50 miles from the prime residential areas close to Galway city. This is a ridiculous situation. People who avail of social and affordable housing and work in Galway city spend hours travelling to and from their homes in Headford, Glenamaddy or Williamstown or wherever else the developer can secure agreement from the local authority to give land in lieu of setting aside 20% of units in their developments in the much sought after areas.

Fine Gael remains concerned at the lack of protection awarded to residents and tenants and has published three Private Members' Bills on the subject. Each of them was rejected by the Government but we pledge once again to implement them if elected to Government. The Housing (Staged Payments) Bill 2006 is designed to eliminate the practice of customers being forced to make staged payments for houses in estates throughout the State. This practice, which is estimated to cost consumers up to €175 million per annum, is a blatant anti-consumer activity which fundamentally undermines and weakens the position of consumers purchasing homes.

The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2006 is designed to end the scourge of unfinished housing estates by ensuring developers who did not live up to their responsibilities in regard to a previous development will not receive permission for any future developments.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2006 allows for the regulation of management companies and their agents in face of reports that new home owners are faced with poorly maintained communal areas, inadequate provision for sinking funds and a total lack of transparency in regard to how rapidly rising management fees are spent. In Galway city and county, developers are obliged under a condition of their planning permission to establish management companies in housing estates comprising only houses as well as those which include apartments. This was never meant to be the case.

The building company is now setting up the management company and the two are one and the same. Householders are being penalised for services that should be provided by the local authority. I do not pay management company fees in the estate in which I live in Galway city. However, my neighbours across the road in Roscam pay exorbitant fees to live in exactly the same type of estate. Many of them are young people in their first homes. The Government is doing nothing to help such people.

I am absolutely astonished at the farce that was the Minister of State's speech. It is no wonder he was interrupted so often by the proposers of this Bill. I hope he does not stand by what he said.

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