Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. It goes without saying that one of the major issues confronting the Government and local authorities is the poor developments left by unscrupulous developers. Decisions taken by the planning authorities were not followed up and construction was characterised by a lack of enforcement and inspection, leaving families to pick up the pieces. One of the lessons we must learn from the Celtic tiger period is that we cannot return to those times. This is of little comfort to many people who are in a difficult position. It is these individuals and families with whom the Government must work.

The Government and local authorities, working together on a regional basis, must address this issue to ensure we do not have a repeat of the past. They must introduce plans that can be rolled out locally to remediate the problems arising in construction. In two consecutive winters, during which air temperatures fell to 0° or -1° Celsius, half the pipes supplying water into new housing estates in my area froze. The problem was not that temperatures fell lower than expected but that water pipes were located practically above ground. The only protection against freezing temperatures was a thin layer of concrete. This practice took place because enforcement and monitoring were not anticipated. We must reintroduce the clerk of works model under which developments are regularly visited while under construction. Notwithstanding the financial constraints they face, local authorities have an opportunity on a regional basis - in my area, Limerick city and county councils, north and south Tipperary county councils and Clare County Council could work together - to establish an inspection and building control regime within which they would share resources and expertise as they could not operate such a scheme on their own.

The Government has inherited a number of serious problems caused by construction in the Celtic tiger era, including partial bonds and developers leaving the Revenue Commissioners high and dry by failing to pay taxes and VAT. Those who engaged in unscrupulous activity in the building industry, for example, by making fraudulent statements, failing to complete estates or knowingly selling houses which did not meet building standards, should be behind bars. The Government must ensure this is the case.

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