Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)

A deal was done with the local authorities and they were paid money instead of being afforded the possibility of building houses. The money is no good to our local authorities because when they go to buy land, they cannot deal with the developers bidding against them.

Planning permission presents a problem in Kerry. A few years ago, a problem arose in Kerry County Council regarding the moving of motions under section 4 and it made headlines all over the country. A deal was made with the councillors such that if farm families or other families with some land were facilitated with planning permission, no more section 4 motions would be moved. In fairness to the councillors, they went down this road. However, planners are now placing every obstacle in the way of the applicants, be it associated with the location of an entrance or otherwise, such that the farm families are moving out of the area. They apply for planning permission a couple of times but it costs them more than the deposit for a house.

The aforementioned has a knock-on effect in that the families concerned are no longer living near their elderly relatives to look after them. This arose in the debate on nursing homes last week. The problem arises in the Minister of State's constituency, that of Deputy O'Dowd and all other rural constituencies. We need to loosen the planning legislation.

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